PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has launched a new education initiative to provide free school bags along with free textbooks, to all public school students across the province.
The move aims to ease the financial burden on families and strengthen this year’s school enrollment drive. Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information to Chief Minister, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, confirmed that the provincial cabinet has formally approved funds for distributing free school bags in KP along with free books.
The government also raised the annual Parent-Teacher Council fund from 5bn rupees [approx. 17.8mn US dollars] to 7bn rupees [approx. 25mn US dollars] to improve school facilities and support learning outcomes.
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Barrister Saif stated that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur remains committed to educational reforms that reflect Imran Khan’s vision for accessible and inclusive schooling. “We are taking real steps to improve education instead of focusing on cosmetic politics,” he said, taking a jab at political opponents. He also invited Punjab’s leadership to replicate the initiative to support underprivileged students nationwide.
The decision to provide free school bags comes at a time when families continue to struggle with inflation and school dropout rates remain a concern. Government officials believe that reducing out-of-pocket expenses for school supplies will boost enrollment, especially in rural and low-income communities.
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The initiative forms part of a broader education reform package under which the government also plans to recruit more teachers, upgrade facilities, and ensure that every child in the province receives quality education. “We are using every available resource to invest in our children’s future,” said Saif. He hope that this approach will set a new standard for other three provinces.
