The Economic Survey of Pakistan 2025 reveals stark disparities in access to education and basic school facilities across the country, painting a troubling picture of inequality between provinces and among various demographic groups. While the national literacy rate has reached 61%, the progress is marred by persistent regional and gender-based imbalances.
Balochistan remains the most underdeveloped province in terms of educational infrastructure. A staggering 79% of its government schools lack electricity, 71% are without access to drinking water, 52% have no boundary walls, and 51% operate without toilet facilities. Compounding these issues, 69% of children in the province are out of school, contributing to the lowest literacy rate in Pakistan—just 42%. This reflects deep-rooted neglect and highlights the critical need for urgent government intervention.
Sindh’s education system also suffers from severe infrastructural shortcomings. About 73% of schools lack electricity, 43% are without toilets, 42% have no drinking water, and 39% lack boundary walls. These conditions not only compromise the learning environment but also threaten student health, safety, and retention, especially in underserved areas.
In contrast, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab demonstrate comparatively better conditions. KP has made notable progress, with 93% of schools having boundary walls, 89% with water facilities, 87% with toilets, and 86% with electricity. Punjab leads the way with near-universal provision of essential services: 100% of schools have drinking water, 99% are equipped with electricity and toilets, and 98% have boundary walls. These differences highlight the unequal distribution of resources and effectiveness of governance across provinces.
The survey also draws attention to significant disparities in literacy rates between men and women, as well as among the transgender community. Nationally, 68% of men are literate compared to just 52.8% of women, pointing to the need for more inclusive educational policies. Transgender individuals face even more pronounced challenges, with an overall literacy rate of 40.15%—higher in urban areas (42.4%) than rural ones (32.94%).
Among the provinces, KP again leads with a transgender literacy rate of 44.67% (urban: 48.5%, rural: 39.3%), followed by Punjab at 41.5% (urban: 43.4%, rural: 34.5%), Sindh at 37.5% (urban: 39.3%, rural: 27%), and Balochistan at the bottom with just 25% (urban: 29%, rural: 22%).
Higher education has seen some progress, with Pakistan now home to 269 universities—160 public and 109 private—and a government allocation of Rs61.1 billion for the sector. However, with only 38 PhD faculty members nationwide, the quality and reach of higher education remain areas of concern.
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The data underscores the urgent need for equitable resource distribution and policy reforms to ensure inclusive access to education. Unless immediate and focused efforts are made to improve conditions in provinces like Balochistan and Sindh and to support women and marginalized groups, millions of Pakistanis risk being left behind, perpetuating cycles of inequality and underdevelopment.