MOHAMMAD BILAL TAHIR

KARACHI: Sindh government has earmarked Rs202.2 billion for education in its financial budget for the year 2017-18.

“Sindh government has allocated the highest percentage of resources for education in the budget for the year 2017-18,” said Sind chief minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in his budget speech. During current financial year Rs163.12 billion were allocated for education.

Rupees 5 billion have been earmarked for the grants of universities and educational institutions.

“Rupees 17.230 billion have been earmarked for Annual Development Programme of education sector,” Shah said, adding that 48 important development schemes have been completed during the current financial year.

He said that during next financial year Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, Shaheed Benazirabad district would be completed at a cost of rupees 1.1 billion.

Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Constituent College/Campus at Larkana would be completed at a cost of rupees 2.6 billion.

Other important schemes included: rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and development of basic facilities at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, at a cost of rupees 151 million; Rupees 120 million have been allocated for strengthening of key Science Laboratories in Government High Schools at taluka level across the province; Strengthening of Infrastructure Phase-I (Replacement of Water & Sewerage Networks) at the University of Karachi at a cost of rupees 129 million and Rs131 million for development of Dawood University of Engineering& Technology (DUET), Karachi.

The chief minister said it is very important to recognize the efforts of hardworking students. From the next financial year, Sindh government is introducing a reward system whereby rupees 100,000 would be given to each student who is able to secure A-1 in the Intermediate and Matriculation exams.

He said that Rs750 million have been earmarked for the said purpose in the next financial year.

He said Sindh government have kept rupees 1 billion for endowment fund for Colleges and Universities. The fund is aimed at providing financial assistance to students. Also, an amount of Rs1 billion have been allocated for free registration and board examinations at all levels of education for students of public sector institutions.

Murad Shah said Sindh government has been providing monetary support to the Sindh Education Foundation and Rs8.08 billion would be provided to the SEF next year that will be an increase of 7% as compared to allocation of current financial year. Also, during next financial year construction of Sindh Education Foundation Complex would begin at a cost of Rs145 million.