Islamabad – The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) has completely rejected and strongly condemned the reported proposal in the upcoming federal budget to increase General Sales Tax (GST) by 8% on educational stationery. The federation’s President, Kashif Mirza, stated that increasing taxes on notebooks, pencils, and textbooks is a direct violation of the fundamental right to education under Articles 25 and 25A of the Constitution of Pakistan. In a statement issued to the media, APPSF President Kashif Mirza said that education is the foundation of national development and that taxing learning resources is equivalent to taxing Pakistan’s future. He further stated that stationery is not a luxury item but a basic necessity for every child, adding that Article 25A obligates the state to provide free and compulsory education to children aged 5 to 16. According to him, taxing essential educational materials contradicts this constitutional responsibility as well as Pakistan’s commitment to SDG-4. Kashif Mirza warned that Pakistan is already facing a severe education crisis, with more than 28 million children currently out of school. He said that the proposed tax increase could worsen educational poverty, forcing millions more children to drop out of school, while also negatively affecting girls’ education, particularly in low- and middle-income families. He added that rising costs may force many parents to choose between basic food needs and their children’s education due to ongoing inflation. The federation stated that the education sector is already under financial pressure due to rising costs of electricity, paper, and printing, and that an additional 8% GST on stationery would place an unbearable burden on household budgets. APPSF has urged the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Parliament to immediately withdraw the proposed GST increase, grant zero-rated tax status to textbooks, notebooks, and pencils, allocate 5% of GDP to the education sector, and ensure consultation with all stakeholders before making financial decisions affecting education. Kashif Mirza emphasized that stakeholders must be taken into confidence regarding any policy decisions impacting education and reaffirmed that the federation will continue to advocate for the rights of students.
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