Introduction
Introduction
Education Expenses in Pakistan 2026 have climbed sharply as the new academic year gets underway, putting real financial pressure on parents across the country. From school fees to textbooks, stationery, and uniforms, the cost of sending a child to school has become noticeably harder for many families to manage this year. For broader economic context, see the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Rising Book and Stationery Prices
Stationery costs alone have jumped significantly this year:
- Small notebooks: around Rs. 150
- Medium notebooks: Rs. 250
- Premium notebooks: up to Rs. 400
- Registers: about Rs. 450
- Drawing books: around Rs. 1,000
- Practical copies: Rs. 2,700 to Rs. 3,000
Much of this increase traces back to rising paper costs, which have pushed up prices across nearly every category of school supplies.
Book Covering Adds an Extra Cost
Even something as small as covering a book has become a noticeable expense this year:
- Plastic covers: Rs. 75–100 per book
- Larger registers: Rs. 120–130 to cover
For a full set of books, this adds up to both real money and real time for parents preparing their children for the new school year.
Other School Essentials Getting Pricier
Beyond books, several other school essentials have seen price increases:
- Uniforms: around Rs. 3,000
- Shoes: Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000
- School bags: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 5,000
The Total Cost of Enrolling a Child
Taken together, parents now report spending between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 30,000 to enroll a single child, covering admission fees, books and stationery, and uniforms and shoes combined — a figure that multiplies quickly for families with more than one school-going child.
A Growing Textbook Shortage
Adding to the pressure, reports indicate a shortage of up to 40% in new textbooks this year, leading to difficulty sourcing required books, inflated prices in some areas, and delays as families scramble to prepare for the academic year.
Who’s Feeling the Impact Most
This rise in costs is hitting middle- and low-income families hardest, with many parents struggling to afford quality education, some forced to compromise on school choice, and financial stress building across households as education slowly becomes less accessible.
Our Take
At Al Riaz Academy, we understand that rising costs like these directly affect the choices families make about their children’s education. It’s part of why we offer sibling discounts and fee concessions where needed — details are on our Fee Structure page — because we don’t want cost to be the reason a student misses out on quality education.
Conclusion
Education expenses in Pakistan have reached a point where many families are genuinely struggling to keep up. From books and stationery to uniforms and admission fees, nearly every aspect of preparing a child for school has become more expensive. Without intervention, this trend risks limiting access to quality education for a growing number of students.
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Ms. Malaika Riaz is the Founder and Director of Al Riaz Academy, a SECP registered institute in Toba Tek Singh. She holds a Master’s degree in Zoology and has 5+ years of teaching experience, focused on concept based education from Nursery to 2nd Year.
