World Bank launches $47.9m education project in Punjab

WASHINGTON: The World Bank has approved a US$47.9 million grant to boost education in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The funding comes from the Global Partnership for Education Fund.

The project will expand early childhood education, bring out-of-school children back to classrooms, and strengthen teacher support. It will also focus on making the education system more resilient to climate change and emergencies.

Named “Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services and System Transformation in Punjab”, the project aims to improve learning outcomes and provide remedial support at the primary and elementary levels.

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World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Bolormaa Amgaabazar, said the initiative would help reduce learning poverty and ensure equal access to quality education. “By strengthening foundational learning and promoting behavioural change, the project will support long-term human capital development and economic growth,” she said.

The programme will benefit over 4 million children, including 80,000 out-of-school children, more than 3 million students in School Education Department schools, 850,000 in the non-formal sector, and 140,000 differently abled children in Special Education Department schools.

Over 100,000 teachers, school leaders, parents, and community members will also benefit from training and awareness campaigns. Indirectly, all students in SED, SpED, and non-formal schools will gain from wider education reforms.

World Bank Task Team Leader Izza Farrakh said the project aligns with Punjab’s education reform agenda. It will strengthen governance, improve coordination between departments, empower schools, and build partnerships with communities.

Pakistan has been a member of the World Bank since 1950 and has received over $48.3 billion in assistance. The current portfolio includes 54 projects with total commitments of $15.7 billion.

Since 1956, IFC has invested around $13 billion in Pakistan in areas like renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing, housing, and trade.