Discontent is brewing within the federal government’s own ranks over the newly announced federal budget, as senior ruling party lawmaker Senator Irfan Siddiqui voiced serious concerns over the sharp reduction in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget.
Calling the budget cuts “regrettable,” Siddiqui submitted a formal set of proposals to the Senate Standing Committee, urging the government to reconsider and increase allocations for higher education. “The HEC budget has not seen any meaningful increase in the last five years. This continued neglect is deeply worrying,” he said.
The senator highlighted that the HEC had originally requested Rs125 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, but the government has allocated only Rs66 billion — nearly half of what was sought. He proposed that the amount be increased to at least Rs80 billion to meet the basic needs of public universities and research institutions.
Siddiqui also expressed concern over the drastic 40% cut in the HEC’s development budget, which has been slashed from Rs49 billion to an even lower figure. He recommended increasing the development allocation to Rs80 billion, citing a significant rise in the number of students and higher education institutions across the country.
Also Read: Budget 2024-25: Rs 93 billion allocated for education sector
“There is a continuous expansion of government universities and research institutions. Naturally, this requires greater financial support,” he said, warning that underfunding would cripple Pakistan’s knowledge economy.
The senator further pointed out that regional countries like India, Maldives, and even Bhutan are investing significantly more in higher education than Pakistan, a gap he said must urgently be addressed.
In the newly presented budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, the federal government has proposed a substantial allocation of funds for the education and health sectors.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had last week announced that Rs93 billion had been earmarked for the education sector, and Rs27 billion allocated for healthcare.
The budget included significant investments in various educational initiatives: Rs25.75 billion was set aside for the Federal Ministry of Education, while the Higher Education Commission (HEC) was allocated a development budget of Rs66.31 billion.
The government is committed to upgrading facilities in 166 public schools in Islamabad, ensuring that students have access to modern educational resources.
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