Federal Budget Allocates Rs. 39.5 Billion for Higher Education; New Schools and Social Support Programs Announced

Islamabad:The Government of Pakistan, in its **Federal Budget 2025-26**, has announced a significant allocation of **Rs. 39.5 billion for the Higher Education Commission (HEC)**, reaffirming its commitment to promoting higher education and research in the country.

### 📚 Education Sector Boost:

In a major step toward inclusive education, the government has also revealed plans to establish **11 new Daanish Schools** across underdeveloped regions:

* **3 schools in Azad Kashmir**
* **3 in Gilgit-Baltistan**
* **4 in Balochistan**
* **1 in Islamabad**

For this initiative, an amount of **Rs. 9.8 billion** has been allocated, aiming to provide quality education in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Additionally, **Rs. 3 billion** have been earmarked for the **reconstruction of flood-affected schools in Sindh**, reflecting efforts to restore educational infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.

### 🏦 Social Protection Expansion:

In a major move to support vulnerable populations, the federal government has proposed expanding the **Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)** to cover **10 million families**. The program’s budget is set to be increased by **21%**, taking the total allocation to **Rs. 716 billion**.

These initiatives signal the government’s focus on **education reform, social safety nets**, and **regional equity** in access to quality services. Analysts note that these measures, if implemented effectively, could contribute meaningfully to human development and poverty alleviation across the country.