Balochistan govt allocates Rs569m for colleges’ upgrade

Balochistan decides to purchase computers, set up libraries, provide internet facilities at tertiary level

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to implement changes in  colleges on a vast scale through a package, including purchase of computers, smart boards, libraries, supply of scientific equipment, internet facility and sports equipment, for which Rs569 million has been allocated in the budget of 2020-21.

The provincial government allocated the amount for upgrading provincial colleges and providing necessary equipment in the fiscal budget of 2020-21 presented by provincial Minister for Finance Zahoor Buledi on Saturday.

“The government has decided to provide funds to all degree colleges in which BS  programme is in process,” said Buledi in his budget speech.

The Balochistan government was in process of awarding the status of degree  colleges to 39 intermediate colleges for which Rs301 million has been allocated in the current fiscal year. However, for the upcoming year, the government has  decided to provide vehicles to principals of 19 degree girls colleges in the first phase, added Buledi.

Rs118.5 million has been earmarked in the budget of financial year 2020-21 to meet the shortage of teachers for science and English subjects on an emergency basis.

Similarly, Rs300 million was allocated for purchasing 33 buses for girls’ colleges.

Referring to the budget of 2019-20, Buledi added a fully equipped digital library has  been set up at Government Post Graduate Girls College, Quetta Cantt for which  Rs50 million has been allocated and the second phase of five digital libraries would  be established in the upcoming fiscal year.

“In the current financial year, over Rs1.29 billion has been spent to ensure the provision of basic facilities in all cadet and residential colleges while regular classes  have been launched in the colleges in Qila Abdullah, Kharan and Awaran,” said the finance minister.

In the new financial year, it was proposed to set up a sub-campus of Loralai University in Barkhan district for promoting technical education.

“The government wanted to set up two more polytechnic institutes, including Polytechnic Institute in Dalbandin and Chaman for which Rs150 million has been allocated during the current financial year,” he said, adding Rs11.783 billion has  been allocated for non-development of this sector in the financial year 2020-21, he  added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2020.