Budget most pro-higher education ever: Shafqat

Islamabad: Federal education minister Shafqat Mahmood has declared the budgetary allocations the 'most pro-higher education ever'.

In a tweet on Saturday, the minister said, “Most pro Higher education budget ever. Development spending enhanced to 37 billion. The maximum spent by [the last PML-] N [government] in its last year was Rs18 billion. On the recurring side Rs66 billion-plus special addition of Rs15 billion making it over Rs81 billion. Total allocation to HE Rs118 billion."

He, however, corrected the figures saying planning minister Asad Umar just told him that development budget has been enhanced by Rs5.5 billion and was actually Rs42.5 billion.

"The total allocation to higher education, development and recurring, is around Rs124 billion."

The minister also said just check the spending figures and not allocation.

"What’s the use of allocation if not utilised. Total spent on the development side by PML-N government in its last year was [Rs] 18 billion. On the recurring side allocation of Rs81 billion is a 20% jump and the most ever," he said.