Key Takeaways
- A seminar urged the gender tagging of the education budget for 2026-27.
- The event aimed to ensure effective use of funds for girls' education.
- Stakeholders called for stronger oversight mechanisms and collaboration.
A seminar focused on the budget allocations for girls’ education in the fiscal year 2026–27 was held in Peshawar, calling for gender tagging of the education budget.
Organised by the Provincial Oversight and Advisory Committee on Girls’ Education of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW), the event also received technical and collaborative support from Blue Veins and the Malala Fund.
The seminar brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including officials from the Education Department, Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), civil society representatives, and young girls’ education champions.
Dr Sumera Shams, Chairperson of KPCSW, highlighted that the Committee had conducted consultations and meetings with relevant stakeholders and young girls, developing recommendations for gender-inclusive education budgeting.
Officials from the Elementary and Secondary Education Department provided an overview of the provincial education budget for the fiscal 2026-27, noting that the budget increased by 10 percent from the previous fiscal year, totalling Rs397 billion, with Rs21 billion allocated to the development budget.
Naseem Khan, Deputy Secretary (Budget), mentioned the establishment of a Global Virtual School to support AI-enabled digital learning for students, addressing geographical barriers to educational access.
Syed Wiqar Shah, Secretary Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasised that investment in girls’ education is crucial for the province’s social development.
The seminar concluded with a call for efficient and transparent utilisation of education resources, stronger monitoring and oversight, and sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that budgetary investments translate into tangible improvements in girls’ access to and quality of education.
Investment in girls’ education is an investment in the province’s social development.
Syed Wiqar Shah, Secretary Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
