KARACHI: For the first time in Sindh, a total of Rs18.63 billion has been released to public schools under a “School-Specific Budget” initiative, following an approval by the provincial government.
The step has been taken to administratively empower government education institutions by devolving budgetary authority to the school level.
Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah stated that the funds had already been transferred to schools and emphasised that civil society should also be involved in monitoring the entire process. In his video message, he said: “Unless schools are financially autonomous, they cannot improve on their own.”
He explained that after the transfer of the budgets, school heads would be able to independently manage repairs and maintenance, purchase furniture, improve washing facilities, procure stationery, undertake tree plantation, organise co-curricular activities and carry out other essential works. Previously, all such matters were managed centrally, particularly from Karachi, leading to various challenges and delays, he said.
The minister clarified that those powers had been transferred directly and fully to headmasters, headmistresses, and principals, who would carry out the procurement and administrative tasks in accordance with the prescribed SOPs.
He instructed the school heads to resolve school-related issues without any pressure, interference or influence, whether from directors, district education officers or taluka education officers.
He also stated that the entire system would be monitored through a mobile application, where school heads would be required to upload the status of facilities before and after the utilisation of the budget. Physical verification of procured items would also be conducted, he added.
The minister added that schools were being empowered in line with the vision of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the guidance of the Sindh chief minister. For this purpose, cost centers have been established for 34,000 school buildings across the province, he said.
Sharing initial figures, he said that under the “School-Specific Budget” initiative, a large school might receive up to Rs33.8 million while a small single-room school up to Rs200,000. He noted that the school heads could complete urgent and essential works by June, adding that improvements in the budget transfer mechanism would continue in the coming years.
He emphasised that procurement from local markets at lower costs would not only help resolve issues effectively but also create local employment opportunities.
The minister clarified that all details would be shared with public through websites, social media and other platforms so that citizens could see how much budget their local school had received and how it was being utilised.
He appealed to civil society and education-friendly individuals to play an active role in monitoring the transparent use of school budgets and expressed the hope that school heads would work with responsibility and integrity to promote education and improve school conditions.
Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026.
