The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, convened by Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, met on 06 January 2026 at the Federal Directorate of Education in Islamabad and raised strong concerns over recent increases in school fees by private institutions.
Members criticised the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority PIERA for permitting unjustified fee hikes and questioned the credibility of the fee appraisal mechanism. The committee emphasised that any adjustment to school fees must be transparently justified and directly linked to verifiable improvements in education quality so that parents are not unduly burdened.
The committee noted that PIERA’s quality assessment framework examines seven core indicators, including quality of teaching, classroom learning environment, infrastructure and facilities, transparency and public disclosure, administrative and operational capacity, cleanliness and discipline, and safety and security. Members insisted that the fee appraisal process should reflect genuine gains across these indicators and be open to independent scrutiny.
Law ministry vetting of Memoranda of Understanding with NGOs was highlighted, with the committee informed that these agreements now include explicit clauses for compliance with the notified minimum wage. The committee reiterated that all staff employed in government schools funded or run through NGOs must receive salaries in strict accordance with minimum wage laws, without exception.
The committee recommended that all properties currently under the administrative control of the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) be formally transferred to DGSE to ensure they are used exclusively for education, rehabilitation, and welfare services for children with special needs. A reminder was issued in December 2025 to Baitul Mal to vacate a DGSE building, and members stressed that control should be transferred promptly to improve service delivery and learning environments.
Officials briefed the committee on collaborations to empower children with special needs, including skill training initiatives delivered jointly with NAVTTC to connect beneficiaries with income-generating opportunities. The committee welcomed these steps while urging continuous monitoring to ensure inclusive outcomes.
In line with Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ministry outlined measures aimed at protecting and promoting child welfare, including provision of free education and transport, school-based free meal programs, strengthened immunization, vaccination and deworming campaigns, and targeted interventions to support mental health and emotional well-being within schools.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Anjum Aqeel Khan, Syeda Amnah Batool, Zeb Jaffar, Farah Naz Akbar as Parliamentary Secretary, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar and Abdul Aleem Khan, alongside the Secretary and officials from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, representatives from the Higher Education Commission and other concerned officers. The committee called on PIERA to enhance transparency, tighten oversight, and ensure that any future school fees increases are defensible and tied to real improvements for students and parents.
