Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman on Tuesday presented the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026-27, announcing a major allocation of Rs. 750.1 billion for the education sector.
The budget was presented in the Punjab Assembly after approval from the provincial cabinet, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, provincial ministers, and assembly members in attendance.
According to official budget documents, Rs. 22 billion has been allocated for the Honhaar Scholarship Program, while Rs. 15.69 billion has been set aside for the Laptop Program aimed at supporting students with digital learning tools.
A further Rs. 33 billion has been earmarked for STEAM Labs to strengthen science and technology education, and Rs. 55 billion for the Punjab Education Foundation to support broader educational initiatives.
In addition, Rs. 6.9 billion has been allocated for IT labs in colleges, while Rs. 7.8 billion will be used for establishing new colleges, campuses, and sub-campuses across the province.
The education sector allocation forms part of Punjab’s total proposed budget of Rs. 5.903 trillion for FY 2026-27, which is 10.7% higher than the current fiscal year’s budget, according to the budget speech.
