Punjab Education Foundation

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Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) is an independent organization based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was created in 1991 and restructured in 2004. PEF is governed by a 15-member board, mostly from the private sector, and is funded by the Government of Punjab. Its goal is to improve education for economically disadvantaged students by partnering with private schools.

PEF runs the Assisted Schools Program, which uses private schools to raise academic standards. About one-third of children aged 6–10 attend private schools, and this share is growing. The program uses vouchers, teacher training, and incentives for schools that show better results. The system is designed to reduce direct government control and allow private schools to operate under specific management rules.

To join the voucher system, a school must have at least two-thirds of its students scoring a minimum of 33 percent on an eligibility exam, plus other criteria assessed by inspectors. There are performance-based incentives for both schools and teachers. The top-performing schools receive financial rewards, and teachers in those schools may receive monetary bonuses. Schools that fail to meet required standards for three consecutive years are removed from the program.

Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik served as the first MD/CEO (2005–2008). The foundation operates as a Public-Private Partnership to support Punjab’s education initiatives.