Pakistan literacy rises to 63pc, education spending falls sharply

Pakistan’s literacy rate has shown a slight improvement. It has increased from 61 per cent to 63 per cent for individuals aged 10 years and above,

Pakistan’s literacy rate has shown a slight improvement. It has increased from 61 per cent to 63 per cent for individuals aged 10 years and above, according to the Economic Survey 2025–26.

The survey also shows a gender gap in education. Male literacy stands at 73 per cent. Female literacy is recorded at 54 per cent. Officials describe this as gradual progress, though disparities remain.

Urban areas continue to perform better in education. The urban literacy rate is 74 per cent overall. Male literacy in cities is 81 per cent. Female literacy is 68 per cent.

Rural areas remain far behind. The rural literacy rate is 55 per cent. Male literacy is 67 per cent. Female literacy is only 44 per cent.

Authorities note that rural female literacy has improved significantly. It is one of the main contributors to overall progress.

Punjab leads the provinces with a literacy rate of 68 per cent. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa both stand at 58 per cent. Balochistan remains the lowest at 49 per cent.

Large internal gaps are also visible within provinces. Urban Punjab reaches 78 per cent literacy. Rural Sindh remains as low as 39 per cent.

The report highlights a decline in education funding. Total expenditure stands at Rs962 billion in 2025. This is lower than Rs1,251 billion in the previous year.

Education spending as a share of GDP has also dropped over time. It was 1.9 per cent in 2019–20. It fell to 1.4 per cent in 2020–21. It increased slightly to 1.7 per cent in 2021–22. It then declined again to 1.5 per cent in 2022–23. It now stands at just 0.8 per cent in 2024–25.

The number of out-of-school children has reduced. It has fallen from 38 per cent in 2023 to 28 per cent in 2025.

All provinces show improvement. Balochistan records the largest drop. Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also show progress.

The survey highlights gaps in basic facilities in schools. About 65 per cent of schools have electricity.

Punjab and ICT have better access to water and sanitation. Balochistan and AJK lag behind in these services.

Facilities such as toilets and boundary walls vary widely across regions. Rural and underdeveloped areas remain the most affected.

The report stresses that education is key to national development. It highlights Pakistan’s young population as a major potential strength.

However, it warns that progress requires more investment. It calls for better access, improved quality, and equal opportunities across the education system.

The government says it remains committed to education reforms. It aims to strengthen the sector through policy measures and targeted investment.