ISLAMABAD: A major education initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), funded by the World Bank, has failed to meet its intended targets, leaving millions of dollars underutilized. Official documents reveal that out of the $115 million allocated for the project, only $24 million has been spent so far.
The initiative, which aims to improve access to primary education across the province, has seen only minimal progress in fund utilization. Of the $81 million set aside for enhancing educational access, just $12 million has been utilized. In addition, a mere $1 million out of the $8 million allocated for teacher training and student skill development has been spent. Only $6 million of the $18 million budget for the rehabilitation of flood-affected schools has been used.
This World Bank-backed program was designed to support the restoration of schools, the construction of new classrooms, and improvements in teaching and learning outcomes across 12 districts of KP. However, the slow pace of fund utilization has raised serious concerns about the project’s implementation and effectiveness.
Qaiser Alam, the Additional Secretary of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Department, acknowledged the project’s importance and stated that it was initially approved in 2020 with a 2025 completion date. Despite this delay, Alam confirmed that the project’s timeline has been extended to 2026, and efforts to restore damaged schools and meet other objectives have been accelerated.
The underutilization of funds—especially in crucial areas such as school rehabilitation, teacher development, and student learning—has raised alarms about the need for stronger oversight and better implementation mechanisms to ensure the project fulfills its goals.
As Pakistan continues to struggle with education challenges, experts are calling for more efficient management of international funding to address the country’s educational crisis and ensure that critical infrastructure and training reach those who need it most.
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