Free education : PEF to spend Rs12 billion in 2016-17

The amount would be spent on ‘free schooling projects’ launched with private schools in the province

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) will spend an estimated Rs12 billion on various projects in the fiscal year 2016-17, said a press statement issued on Monday.

The amount would be spent on “free schooling projects” launched in collaboration with private schools in the province.

The statement said more than two million students were getting free school education under the PEF programmes.

“The purpose of these projects is to help financially deprived students to stand on their own feet,” the statement said.

PEF MD Tariq Mahmood chaired a review meeting on budgetary utilisations in 2016-17 at his office on Monday.

He said a proficient financial system had been designed in order to ensure timely funding of PEF partners every month.



“We have also designed and implemented robust control structures that would guide us in financial and internal control policies and procedures. It is satisfying that PEF has ensured transparency in its budget utilisations.”

Mahmood said the role of the foundation was pivotal in providing opportunities for education to those who could not afford it on their own.

He said the PEF would continue to play a leading role in eradicating illiteracy and ignorance by promoting free quality education at the grassroots level.

The meeting also reviewed budgetary allocations for various free education programmes in 2016-17.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.