WHILE undergraduates in the United States rank among the highest in terms of publishing research articles and journals, their Pakistani counterparts lack even basic academic writing skills. They struggle to write emails, reports and essays, let alone undertake academic research.

Pakistan possesses a significant youth bulge, with 64 per cent of its population comprising young people. If this critical demographic component was capable of conducting research, it would leave a significant mark on global research plat-forms. However, it remains constrained by outdated pedagogical practices and an exam-centric educational system that incentivises rote learning and penalises critical and analytical skills — the corner-stones of research and research writing.

The most significant failure of our educational system lies in its inability to cultivate Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS), which include analysis, synthesis and evaluation. To exacerbate this crisis, the system lacks initiatives, policies and platforms that could facilitate research among students and foster enthusiasm for it.

Pakistan needs an improvement in its academic structure. To utilise its large young population, it must provide incen-tives, research training and platforms to undergraduates alongside reforms to foster HOTS from the primary level of education.

Shafique Rajper
Naushahro Feroze

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026