ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Economic Survey for the period 2024–25 has revealed that the national literacy rate in Pakistan has made modest progress and reached 60 per cent.
According to the literacy rate statistics, literacy is 68 per cent for men and only 52 per cent for women. While the gender gap is still there, the overall trend points to some improvement compared to past years.
Punjab continues to lead with a literacy rate of 66 per cent. Sindh follows at just over 57 per cent, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 51 per cent. Balochistan remains at the bottom with a literacy rate of 42 per cent.
The survey also highlighted the serious issue of children who remain out of school. Although the report did not include updated data for the past year, it shared figures from 2022 and 2023, which paint a worrying picture.
According to those statistics, 38 per cent of children were not attending school. Among them, 35 per cent were boys, while a higher 42 per cent were girls, once again showing a clear gender gap in access to education.
Punjab had the largest number of out-of-school children, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and then Balochistan.
Despite small steps forward, the survey points out that Pakistan’s education system still faces major challenges.
As work on the 2025–26 federal budget continues, many education experts and campaigners are calling on the government to invest more in education, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas, to make sure that all children get a fair chance at learning.
Literacy rate in AJK
The literacy rate in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) is generally reported to be between 70 per cent and 74 per cent.
According to the official website “Azad Jammu & Kashmir boasts a literacy rate exceeding 70 per cent and a comprehensive education system spanning from primary to university level. The government is implementing significant reforms and investing heavily to enhance educational standards. To ensure transparency in teacher selection, the current administration has introduced NTS-based testing services.”
