In a significant policy shift, the Government of Punjab has officially decided to terminate the Schools of Eminence project, an ambitious initiative aimed at improving educational standards in underprivileged and rural areas by upgrading existing school infrastructure.
The decision was taken during a mid-year review meeting, where a senior minister granted final approval for the project’s closure. Following the directive, the Planning and Development Board (P&D) Punjab has initiated the process of reallocating the project’s funds to other development priorities.
According to official documents, the scheme had been approved with a substantial budget of Rs5 billion and was scheduled for implementation from January 1, 2026, to June 2026. However, despite its ambitious scope, the project failed to gain momentum, as no funds were released during the entire 2025–26 fiscal year. Financial records show zero progress, effectively rendering the initiative inactive from the outset.
Government officials have defended the move, describing it as a strategic decision aimed at ensuring the efficient utilization of public resources. They stated that continuing a non-operational project would not serve the public interest, and that redirecting funds toward more viable and impactful initiatives would deliver quicker and more measurable improvements in the education sector.
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The cancellation marks a notable shift in the province’s education development strategy, raising questions about policy continuity and the prioritization of projects designed to uplift marginalized communities.
