Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030. Unfortunately, the country remains far from achieving this target. According to media reports, the national literacy rate has reached 63%, with male literacy at 73% and female literacy at 54%. Sadly, around 26 million children are currently out of school, with girls accounting for 13.7 million of them. This disparity is largely unaddressed due to the government’s neglect of the education sector.
Only 2.0% of GDP is spent on education, and just Rs66.4 billion has been allocated as a recurring grant to the Higher Education Commission, whereas Rs838 billion has been allocated to the Benazir Income Support Programme. Is this not a clear case of underinvestment in education?
The state must reset its priorities and allocate more than 6% of GDP to education. Without that, Pakistan will only produce people who are dependent on state support rather than scientists, engineers, doctors, researchers and other professionals. And it is not only a question of spending on education but also of eradicating corruption and nepotism, which are destroying the country’s education system.
In a country of over 250 million people, women constitute nearly half the population; however, their access to education remains unsatisfactory. And males make up 51% of the population, females account for 49%. At the same time, poverty grips more than two-fifths of the population, turning survival into a daily struggle. Many children are forced to abandon their education because of early employment, and even those who continue to higher levels of education often find university expenses unaffordable. As a result, their aspirations for higher education come to an end.
Many girls lack opportunities to complete education from the primary to the higher level. Girls’ education suffers from a lack of resources and limited access. Schools exist without staff, teachers without proper training, and policies without effective implementation. The barriers are not merely cultural, as is often claimed; rather, they stem from structural incompetence, unending corruption, deliberate neglect, and an unwillingness to prioritise intellect over outdated traditions.
The challenge is even greater in rural areas, where opportunities for girls remain scarce. Literacy in urban areas is around 74.1%, whereas in rural regions it is only about 51.6%. This contrast exposes how geography determines opportunity, leaving rural girls the most vulnerable to live in deprivation.
The education sector is a profitable enterprise and a loss-free investment for any country when opportunities are offered equally to both girls and boys. When girls are educated, they play a positive role in healthcare, education and community welfare. They can secure a better future for the children of this nation. A professional degree gives woman not only knowledge but also confidence, authority and independence – qualities that strengthen both families and societies.
However, urgent action is needed to address the issue of girls’ education before it is too late. Education has the power to revive the economy and reform a system that has long been failing. When education is strengthened, other sectors such as health, social welfare, politics and infrastructure also regain momentum. The financial wellbeing comes through educational progress and the equal participation of girls in education.
Many women under 30 remain underrepresented in the workforce because of unequal access to education, despite forming a substantial share of Pakistan’s population. Those who are employed are mostly confined to low-paid, informal jobs and struggle to compete in professional sectors because of limited schooling and training. If we truly want to see progress, girls’ literacy must be given a national priority. Indeed, education is source of power for great nations.
Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and play a role in society. Let us empower her to work alongside man to achieve socio-political stability and economic development of the country.
Article (Opinion) Published in Express Tribune on July 16th, 2026.
