Islamabad: Displeased with the lack of progress in his education reforms programme, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered for the immediate disbursement of $9.52m for the capital’s government schools.
The planning commission was directed to release the funds no later than yesterday.
“The matter was discussed on telephone with secretary planning, development and reforms and [the] prime minister’s disappointment in the inordinate delay in [the] release of funds was also brought on record,” read a letter issued to the secretary planning, development and reform by Fawad Hasan Fawad, secretary to the prime minister.
The letter which is dated January 3 said the prime minister has ordered for the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms to release Rs1bn out of the estimated cost of the project at “Rs2994.353m” immediately and no later than January 5.
According to the letter released, the remaining amount shall be provided in the second half of the current year after the exercise of re-appropriation is completed by the Ministry of Planning.
Officials in the ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have saidrecently that this is a positive development and that after the funds are received, the process of improving 200 schools will be started.
The FDE is looking after 422 schools, which were to be improved in phases under the prime minister’s reform programme.
