THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it does offer a ray of hope for a better educated and skilled Pakistan if further progress is made in this direction. As per the latest figures, the literacy rate for individuals aged 10 and above was 63pc, a rise of 2pc, in 2025-26. However, spending on education fell, indicating that gains may be neutralised if insufficient funds are allocated for learning. The official figures say male literacy stood at 73pc, while 54pc of females in the country were literate. Expectedly, urban areas fared better than their rural counterparts. One particularly heartening statistic notes that rural female literacy is growing, with areas in Punjab recording the highest rate (68pc). Moreover, the number of out-of-school children in Pakistan — said to be between 25-26m — has also decreased, compared to 2023. Yet education expenditure has been in constant decline over the past few years. Unicef has confirmed that public spending on education in the country is “declining [and] chronically low”.

The reality is that Pakistan’s socioeconomic challenges cannot be met unless the vast majority of the population is literate and skilled. Therefore, along with targeting out-of-school children and improving the literacy rate, more resources must be given to the education sector. That is easier said than done in these times of economic distress, but the state must get its priorities right: trim the fat and get rid of wasteful spending, and funnel the savings into education. The focus on educating girls must also continue, while educational infrastructure, particularly at the primary level, needs to be improved to encourage parents to send their offspring to school. Alternative learning pathways and non-formal education programmes should also be expanded to ensure that our children are equipped to grapple with tomorrow’s challenges.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026