Punjab Minister Vows to Strengthen Public–Private Education Collaboration

By Dr. Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan has pledged to strengthen coordination between public and private education sectors, emphasizing their joint role in improving the quality of education across the province.
The minister made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, led by its Central President Kashif Adeeb Javedani.
Discussions focused on challenges faced by private educational institutions, proposed reforms, and measures to enhance the overall education system. The delegation presented a series of recommendations aimed at addressing sectoral issues and improving academic standards.
Key proposals included the abolition of commercialization fees for low-cost private schools, assigning educational oversight to district registration authorities, and ensuring a minimum of 220 teaching days annually. Additional suggestions covered financial support measures such as easy loan schemes for teachers, removal of commercial electricity tariffs for low-fee institutions, inclusion of private schools in government laptop programs, and provision of affordable internet access.
Rana Iqbal assured participants that all legitimate concerns would be addressed on a priority basis, noting that private institutions play a crucial role in expanding access to education.
“The government is taking significant steps to promote education, and collaboration between public and private sectors is essential for building an effective system,” he said, reiterating that ensuring quality education for every child remains a top priority.
Members of the delegation also included Amjad Ali Khan, Muhammad Hasnain, Ali Abbas Chaudhry, Rana Abdul Basit, and Abdul Hameed Shaheen.
Observers say the dialogue reflects ongoing efforts to bridge gaps between public and private education providers, with the aim of improving accessibility, affordability, and quality of education in Punjab.