Swabi – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur announced a 13% increase in the education budget for the upcoming fiscal year, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to improving education standards across the province.
Addressing the first convocation ceremony of Gajju Khan Medical College on Wednesday, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that education and health remain top priorities for his administration. “We are not just investing in infrastructure but also in raising the quality of education to meet international standards,” he stated.
He revealed that the government has doubled the scholarship endowment fund from 1.2bn rupees [4.29mn US dollars] to 2.4bn rupees [8.57mn US dollars], marking a significant milestone after 77 years of stagnation. He also announced that more students would benefit from scholarships under the revised scheme.
Over 200 students received degrees, and more than 100 were awarded gold medals during the ceremony. National Assembly members Asad Qaiser and Shahram Tarakai, provincial cabinet member Ranjeet Ahmed, faculty members, graduates, and their parents attended the event.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further shared that 1,500 nurses have received international training under government initiatives. In the health sector, the province has expanded the Sehat Card Plus program to include critical procedures like liver, kidney, and bone marrow transplants.
He noted that cardiac centers are being established across various regions beyond Peshawar. “Until now, cardiac treatment was only available in Peshawar. That is changing. We are setting up cardiac units in every region,” he said.
Gandapur highlighted the province’s improving financial position. “We took charge with only 18 days’ worth of salary left in the treasury. Today, we have three months of advance salaries available,” he said. He added that 60bn rupees [214.29mn US dollars] out of 72bn rupees [257.14mn US dollars] in liabilities have already been cleared. The remaining pension arrears will be addressed in the next budget.
He praised Gajju Khan Medical College as a model institution for quality medical education and commended its faculty for their dedication.
Addressing the graduates, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa urged them to serve humanity with compassion and professionalism. “Patients trust you. Maintain that trust through good behavior and honest service,” he said.
