ISLAMABAD: In a continued push to prioritize education and human development, Pakistan’s federal government has allocated 0.8% of the Gross National Product (GNP) to the education sector during July–March of the fiscal year 2025, according to the Economic Survey released Monday.
This reflects a sustained commitment to positioning education as a driver of national progress.
A major chunk of this investment—Rs61.1 billion—was directed to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), with Rs12 billion set aside for the national laptop scheme.
These funds are part of 159 development projects (138 ongoing and 21 new) across public universities and higher education institutions.
By April 2025, Rs32.6 billion had been disbursed. The HEC has also rolled out the IT Component of the Higher Education Development Program in Pakistan (HEDP)—a transformative $400 million World Bank-supported initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s higher education IT infrastructure.
Despite these strategic investments, literacy figures reveal stark realities. Pakistan’s national literacy rate remains at 60.6%, with men at 68% and women at just 52.8%, exposing a persistent gender gap.
The literacy rate among the transgender population stands at 40.2%, indicating a critical need for more inclusive education policies.
Urban-rural disparities also persist. While urban areas boast a literacy rate of 74%, rural regions trail behind at 51.6%.
Among provinces, Punjab leads with 66.3%, followed by Sindh (57.5%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (51.1%), and Balochistan (42%).
Perhaps most alarming is the number of out-of-school children: 24.8 million across the country.
Balochistan reports the highest percentage at 69%, followed by Sindh at 47%, Punjab at 32%, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the lowest at 30%.
Meanwhile, efforts to strengthen vocational training are also underway. The National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) is playing a central role in equipping youth with employable skills, aimed at improving productivity and supporting workforce export.
Pakistan currently has 269 universities – 160 in the public sector and 109 privately run—serving as key platforms for higher education and research.
While the Economic Survey highlights important steps forward, it also underscores the enduring challenges of equitable access, gender disparity, and regional inequality in Pakistan’s education system. Achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 4—ensuring inclusive and quality education for all—remains a steep but critical journey.
