ISLAMABAD (IN) – Dr. Abdus Salam, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Education at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), has called for education to be the top priority for national economic development. He stated that the fact that 26.2 million children are out of school, coupled with the meager 0.8% of GDP currently allocated to education, represents a major challenge to the national economy.
Dr. Abdus Salam issued a categorical demand to the Government of Pakistan to allocate at least 4% of GDP to the education sector in the upcoming federal budget to overcome the ongoing crisis. He emphasized that education is not merely a social responsibility but the foundation of national economic stability, adding that only a skilled and educated youth population can lead Pakistan toward economic self-reliance.
Citing the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 and international reports, he pointed out that the reduction in educational expenditure and the imbalanced utilization of the budget require immediate reforms.Advocating for the strict implementation of Article 25-A of the Constitution, Dr. Abdus Salam proposed a shift in federal budgetary priorities. He urged that along with higher education, special focus must be placed on primary, secondary, and technical and vocational education.
Furthermore, he demanded the establishment of a dedicated fund to promote girls’ education. He remarked that a budget reflects a nation’s priorities, and investing in education in line with modern demands is the only path to achieving the 2030 Global Education Goals (SDG-4).Dr. Abdus Salam reaffirmed his commitment that the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry would continue to strive at every level to align Pakistan’s educational policies with the needs of industry and trade, ensuring the building of a better and stable economic future for the country.
