Pakistan’s economy is steadily recovering from the downturn that began in 2019-20. Key macroeconomic indicators are improving — economic growth is on an upward trajectory, inflation is declining, the trade deficit has narrowed, and foreign exchange reserves are stabilising.
As we move forward, sustaining this momentum will require political stability, policy consistency, and targeted investments in human capital development. However, economic progress must not be measured solely in GDP growth or fiscal indicators. True development occurs when macroeconomic gains translate into better livelihoods, increased productivity, and improved access to quality services for every citizen.
Education is the most critical determinant of this transformation. Without a strong education system, Pakistan will struggle to compete in the global knowledge economy. The path to sustainable economic prosperity lies in ensuring universal access to quality education and equipping our youth with the skills needed for the modern economy.
Despite education being a constitutional right under Article 25-A, Pakistan continues to face one of the world’s most severe education crises. The 2023 Population Census presents a sobering reality: 25.3 million children aged 5 to 16 remain out of school — one of the highest figures globally.
79% of 10-year-olds cannot read an age-appropriate text, indicating a severe learning crisis. The national literacy rate stands at 59.3%, significantly below the South Asian average of 74%. Wide regional disparities exist, with literacy rates ranging from 83.97% in Islamabad to 44% in Balochistan.
Pakistan lags behind peer countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam, which have significantly improved their literacy rates and educational outcomes through sustained reforms.
In Bangladesh, 73% of children complete lower secondary school, compared to just 51% in Pakistan. India’s education system has made significant strides through its national literacy and digital learning initiatives. These comparisons highlight a fundamental reality: Without urgent reforms, Pakistan risks falling further behind in the global race for economic competitiveness.
Recognising the urgency of education reform, the Planning Commission of Pakistan launched the District Education Performance Index (DEPIx) 2020-23, a groundbreaking initiative to track and improve school education at the district level. DEPIx evaluates 134 districts across five key domains:
1. Infrastructure & Access — availability of schools, classrooms, and basic facilities.
2. Learning Outcomes — student literacy and numeracy performance.
3. Inclusion (Equity & Technology) — gender, socioeconomic equity and digital education access.
4. Governance & Management — accountability, teacher performance and school
administration.
5. Public Financing — efficiency of education spending. The national average DEPIx score stands at 53, highlighting significant gaps in access, learning, and resource allocation.
Notably, provinces with higher education budgets do not necessarily achieve better learning outcomes, emphasising the need for better-targeted investments rather than just increased spending.
To bridge these gaps, the Planning Commission has initiated URAAN Pakistan, a comprehensive reform programme to modernise education and align it with economic development needs. Key interventions include:
One, curriculum reform for 21st-century learning: developing critical thinking, digital literacy and STEM-focused curricula. Reducing rote memorisation and promoting conceptual learning. Aligning school curricula with international education benchmarks.
Two, National Teacher Training Centre of Excellence: establishing a state-of-the-art teacher training institute. Integrating modern teaching methodologies, digital tools, and AI-assisted learning. Offering continuous professional development programs for educators.
Three, shifting from rote-based testing to competency-driven assessments. Four, expanding ICT & Digital Learning. Providing subsidised tablets and digital resources for students.
Five, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), we have introduced a seven-point Higher Education Performance Audit Framework to enhance accountability and quality in universities. These points include: one, academic excellence — faculty qualifications, research and curriculum.
Two, industry linkages — collaboration with businesses for skill-based education. Three, global rankings and accreditation — strengthening international recognition.
Four, student employability and skills — aligning graduates’ skills with job market demands. Five, governance and management — ensuring transparency and institutional effectiveness.
Six, financial sustainability — optimising funding for long-term stability. And, seven, digital transformation — integrating technology in learning and research.
These reforms aim to make Pakistan’s universities globally competitive and better aligned with the job market.
Pakistan currently spends only 1.7 per cent of its GDP on education which was 2.02 per cent in 2018, far below the Unesco-recommended 4.0 per cent.
Countries that have successfully transitioned into knowledge economies — such as South Korea, Malaysia and China — have consistently invested 5-7 per cent of GDP in education. To achieve long-term economic stability, Pakistan must double public education spending to at least 4.0 per cent of GDP, encourage public-private partnerships to expand quality schooling and leverage technology to bridge rural-urban educational disparities.
I am making a national call to action. Reforming education should be our collective national mission. The private sector, civil society, academia and international partners will have to join hands to modernise and expand Pakistan’s education sector.
I urge education experts to contribute policy insights and innovative solutions. We want tech companies to support EdTech and digital learning platforms. Media and civil society should advocate for education as a top national priority. Overseas Pakistanis to invest in scholarships, schools, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Pakistan stands at a crossroads.
We can either continue with the status quo, where millions of children remain out of school, or we can take bold, decisive steps to transform our future through education. The time for action is now.
Education is the bedrock of Pakistan’s economic transformation, and we cannot afford to delay bold reforms. Through URAAN Pakistan, we are fostering national unity on this critical issue, bringing together the best minds, ideas, and resources to drive meaningful change.
The Champions of Reform (COR) network serves as a collaborative platform where Pakistan’s top talent — educators, policymakers, researchers and innovators — can contribute their expertise to shape the future of education.
Let’s come together with a shared commitment to ensure that every child in Pakistan has access to quality education, paving the way for a prosperous, knowledge-driven future.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed in this piece are the writer’s own and don’t necessarily reflect Geo.tv’s editorial policy.
The writer is the federal minister for planning, development, and special initiatives. He tweets/posts @betterpakistan and can be reached at: [email protected]
Originally published in The News