MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) cabinet has approved the Education Package 2026, which includes a budget allocation of Rs 2.45 billion for schools and Rs 766.5 million for higher education.
Addressing the press conference along with ministers Dewan Ali Khan Chughtai and Malik Zafar, Most Senior Minister Mian Abdul Waheed Advocate appreciated the Higher Education Minister and its team for making continuous efforts for the approval of the historic package.
The minister for school education, Dewan Ali Khan Chughtai, said that the education package is basically a continuation of the National Education Policy, under which the shortage of educational institutions across the state and the discrepancy in the student-teacher ratio will be addressed.
He further said that under the package, the upgradation of educational institutions and the posts of teaching cadre have been approved as per the rationalization policy on the basis of need.
As per the details, 868 educational institutions will be upgraded, 259 posts will be made for the establishment of 182 new elementary and secondary schools, 2692 new posts will be created for the upgradation of the existing 653 schools, while 368 posts will be created in the existing 200 schools.
A total of Rs 2978.99 million will be spent on creating these posts, the minister said.
Higher Education Package
Moreover, Minister for Higher Education Zafar Iqbal Malik, while addressing the presser, said that for the first time in Azad Kashmir, the Higher Education Department has approved education under the Uniform Policy.
An education package worth Rs 766.4 million has been approved in ten districts of three divisions of AJK, he said.
Under the package, 726 new posts will be created under the Higher Education Department, including 356 posts in newly established colleges, 225 posts for the upgradation of colleges, and 142 posts in 142 existing institutions, which will incur a total expenditure of Rs 764.932 million.
A total of 09 new colleges will be established in three districts of Muzaffarabad division, worth Rs 187.5 million, and 162 new posts will be created.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 42.4 million has been approved for the upgradation of 06 institutions, and 43 posts have been created, while an amount of Rs 27.8 million has been approved for the creation of 30 additional posts in the existing institutions of Muzaffarabad division.
In addition, a total of seven new colleges will be established in four districts of the Poonch division, along with the creation of 126 new posts, totalling Rs 145.8 million. An amount of Rs 106.5 million has been approved for the upgradation of 14 institutions, and 104 posts will be created, while an amount of Rs 24 million has been approved for the creation of 30 additional posts in the existing institutions of the division.
The minister further said that a total of four colleges will be established in 13 districts of Mirpur division, worth Rs. 77.9 million, and 68 new posts will be created.
The cabinet has approved Rs 76.5 million for the upgradation of 11 institutions and creation of 81 posts, while Rs 66.7 million has been approved for the creation of 77 additional posts in the existing institutions of the division.
In response to a question, Zafar Malik said that the government has provided a huge amount to overcome the financial crisis of the University of Kashmir. For the first time in history, the Higher Education Department provided Rs 1.85 billion to the University of Kashmir.
Furthermore, the cabinet also approved a one-time grant of Rs 1042.6 million for the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK), Muzaffarabad, and Rs 188.8 million for Bagh University.
Meanwhile, the status of the Women’s University, which earlier only taught girls, is now being changed under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Women’s University Bagh Amendment Act 2026, and its boys’ campus will be established.
