A new report has revealed how education funding is distributed across Pakistan, highlighting that provincial governments remain the primary financiers of the sector under the country’s devolved governance system.
The findings are included in the “Public Financing in Education 2025–26” report released by the Pakistan Institute of Education. The 171-page document provides a detailed breakdown of education budget allocations by province and region for the fiscal year 2023–24 and evaluates how much each government prioritizes education in its overall spending.
According to the report, Punjab accounted for the largest share of the country’s education budget at 37 percent, reflecting its large population and extensive school network. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 21 percent each.
The federal government contributed 10 percent of the total education allocations. The report attributes this share mainly to higher education spending and administrative responsibilities at the national level.
Meanwhile, Balochistan accounted for 7 percent of the country’s education funding. The regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan contributed 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Beyond the total shares, the report also compares how much each government allocates to education within its own overall budget. It found that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demonstrated the strongest commitment over the past four years, dedicating an average of 25 percent of its total spending to education and increasing it to 27 percent in 2023–24.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir followed with an average allocation of 24 percent, while the federal government spent only 1 percent of its total budget on education during the same period.
Although the report notes nominal increases in education spending across the country, it stresses that Pakistan’s overall education expenditure remains below international benchmarks. The document emphasizes the need for better utilization of funds, improved transparency, and stronger policy implementation to ensure that increased funding leads to meaningful improvements in education outcomes.
