Around the globe, and most specifically in Pakistan, the state is gradually retreating from its traditionally mandated obligations in providing fundamental services to its citizens. Typically in a service delivery framework these provisions include education, health and other aspects related to social welfare. In Pakistan, it is a well acknowledged fact that the state has neglected to fulfill its social obligations, preferring instead to outsource it to civil society organizations and private enterprises. With particular reference to education, the state

educational system has experienced a marked decline in terms of impact, outreach, and most importantly, institutional and educational quality. Currently, it also lacks the necessary expertise and human capital as well as the political will to improve the standard of the public education system or reform the education system in Pakistan in its entirety.

Given the capacity of the state to effect meaningful change in the education system, the concept of Public Private Partnership has emerged as a response and a means to counter this prevailing trend. The concept envisages extensive collaboration between the two sectors with the aim of supporting the public sector in its functions related to service delivery. In this regard, the technical expertise and extensive resources possessed by the private sector make it ideally positioned to assume a supportive role. In this regard, the SEF under the aegis of Prof. Anita Ghulam Ali first applied this concept in the pioneering Adopt-A-School Program. More recently, another program launched under this concept has been the Support to Private Education Institutes Program (SPEIP).