The government of Pakistan has decided to levy a commercialization fee on private schools to enhance oversight of how educational institutions utilize their land and buildings.
The proposal was reviewed in a meeting chaired by Special Secretary Schools Muhammad Iqbal, with Additional Secretary Dr. Farhan also present. Representatives from private schools, including Mian Imran Masood, Qazi Naeem Anjum, Kashif Adeeb, and Ali Raza, attended the discussion.
Private school representatives raised concerns that the new fee could lead to higher tuition costs for families. They noted that schools already face annual building rent increases of around 10%, while fee hikes are capped at 5%, leaving limited room to absorb additional charges without passing them on.
During the meeting, the Rector of the Unique Group suggested that the government provide policy relief to avoid any negative impact on education quality. Officials confirmed that a slab-based mechanism for implementing the commercialization fee is expected to be proposed to balance the financial burden.
Separately, authorities said an academic calendar for the upcoming year will be issued soon after approval from the Chief Minister, ensuring schools and departments have ample time for preparations.
