Myths and reality about Defence and Education expenditure in the Federal Budget 20-21

This is certainly complete misinformation spread by particular groups in which they try to falsify the federal defense expenditure as compared to provincial education expenditure to make the controversial federal budget. If we observe the 2019-2020 fiscal year in the context of military expenditure there is hardly minimum ratio between the educational expenditure of provinces including Punjab: 383bn, Sindh239bn, Baluchistan:60bn, KPK:143bn, HEC:29bn and Federal: 77bn is nearly equal to 931billion(Share of GDP: 2.4%). It’s estimated that the defence expenditure of 20-21 fiscal year expected around 1289 billion rupees and combine educational expenditure will meet around last year's expenditure target.

In the light of the 18th amendment education is a matter of provincial governments and autonomous in funding, managing, and policymaking. Federal ministry of education monitor professional training institutions/federal board in the capital territory including schools, colleges, and universities, Higher Education Commission is work as a semi-autonomous body because after the 18th amendment there is no central authority to regulate entire educational system including allocating funds by transparent way.

It’s completely misinformed that in the Federal Budget 20-21, Pakistan will spend more on Defence services than on Education according to above facts federal government only allocate funds to the federal ministry of education and HEC with this respect sub-provinces separately allocate fund for education ministries, by combining all of the expenditure of federal, HEC and provinces its nearly close to the defence expenditure.

The absence of central authority is the main reason we have different types of education systems, coaching culture that’s why students don’t have the intellectual base to confront the crisis and confronting rights too. Pakistan needs to impose an educational emergency as well because 22.8 million children are out of school and 64% of youth is under 30, it’s crucial to reform the educational system for Pakistan's survival in competing with other nations.

If we talk about the budget in IR terms its defines defence expenditure and education expenditure related with traditional security and human security approach there is a conflict between defence and education expenditure but we are not living in vacuum and India has a very aggressive policy towards the Pakistan and Pakistan will not create a conventional imbalance in face of belligerent India that poses constant threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan that’s the main reason Pakistan cannot reduce his defence expenditure. Education is also important as well because India is threatening Pakistan sovereignty and territorial integrity by traditional means but it is also using unconventional means, hybrid warfare, cyber ware, and information warfare in this kind of warfare we need educated and economically strong Pakistan, we cannot achieve it without having a strong educational budget as well. So we need to create a balance between human and traditional security approaches by focusing more on the education budget as well that’s why human security concerns also become national security as well.