Textbook Publishers Face Rs. 2 Billion Loss as Punjab Govt Revises School Syllabus

The Punjab government’s decision to introduce a revised school syllabus has triggered strong criticism from textbook publishers, who fear massive financial losses and disruption in book supply for the next academic session. Publishers claim the sudden change without prior consultation will leave thousands of already printed textbooks unusable, creating a crisis in the publishing industry.

The reform is part of a major structural shift in Punjab’s education sector. The government has formed the Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training, and Assessments Authority (PECTAA), a new body created by merging three major institutions:
Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board, Quaid-i-Azam Academy for Educational Development, and the Punjab Examination Commission.
This unified authority, led by the provincial school education minister, is responsible for modernising curriculum, upgrading teacher training, and strengthening student assessment standards.

A 16-member committee including senior officials from departments such as finance, special education, higher education, planning and development, and school education will supervise these reforms.

Publishers Strongly Oppose the Move
The Urdu Bazaar Publishers Association has raised serious concerns regarding the timing and execution of the syllabus change. Its president, Khalid Pervaiz, stated that the new syllabus will cause an estimated Rs. 2 billion loss because thousands of textbooks printed for the upcoming academic year will no longer be valid.
He said the government made the decision without consulting publishers, despite the fact that they had already invested heavily in printing stock for the next session. Pervaiz stressed that if books are replaced, the government should compensate the publishers for their unsold inventory.

Govt Stands Firm on Reform Plans
Punjab School Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat dismissed the criticism and said the government “doesn’t require approval from publishers to revise curriculum.” He emphasized that the changes are essential to eliminate unnecessary content and improve learning outcomes for students.
“We can change the curriculum to improve the future of children,” he said, adding that while dialogue is welcome, the reform agenda will continue.

According to PECTAA officials, the revised syllabus will be fully implemented in the 2026–27 academic year.

Industry Uncertainty Continues
With large financial stakes and the academic supply chain at risk, publishers fear a disruption in textbook availability and significant economic fallout. Many warn that if compensation issues are not addressed, the publishing sector may struggle to recover.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government maintains that curriculum reform is necessary for better education standards, even if the transition brings temporary challenges.