Data Reveals Deepening Inequalities in Higher Education System

Nadeem Tanoli

Islamabad: Newly released federal data has confirmed a sharp rise in university admissions across Pakistan—but the same figures expose widening inequalities and structural weaknesses that continue to undermine the country’s higher education system.

The data, presented in Parliament in response to a query by MNA Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, shows that first-semester admissions climbed from 668,832 to 752,781 over the past three years.

Yet experts say the growth masks a system buckling under chronic underfunding, limited institutional capacity, rising educational costs, and widespread regional disparities.

Private Sector Surges, Public Universities Lag

The most troubling pattern is the accelerating divide between private and public institutions. Admissions in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) jumped from 113,618 to 150,127, an alarming 16.1% increase.

By contrast, public universities—already overstretched—recorded a modest 4.4% rise, with admissions moving from 555,214 to 603,728.

Analysts warn this shift signals that higher education is becoming increasingly exclusive, accessible primarily to wealthier families able to shoulder rising tuition and living expenses.

Despite concerns that total enrollment is shrinking, Pakistan’s overall university population has grown from 1.95 million to 2.08 million, a marginal 3.3% increase. Experts argue that this rise remains far below what is needed to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding youth population.

Provincial Breakdown Exposes Stark Disparities

• A province-by-province analysis highlights the uneven growth across Pakistan:
• Punjab posted the largest increase, with admissions rising from 224,641 to 272,263 — a 10.6% jump.
• Sindh recorded a 5.2% rise (from 90,418 to 99,752).
• The Federal Area saw similar growth at 5.2%.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, however, witnessed only 0.5% growth, barely moving from 63,789 to 64,391.
• More concerning are the regions where admissions fell sharply:
• Gilgit-Baltistan experienced the steepest drop, plunging 11.9% (from 3,519 to 2,681).
• Balochistan recorded a 1.6% decline.
• Azad Jammu & Kashmir saw admissions fall by 1.5%.
• These downward trends reinforce longstanding concerns about inequitable access to higher education in marginalized and remote regions.

Government Diagnosis Highlights Systemic Failures

In its explanation to Parliament, the government acknowledged a range of structural hurdles. Pakistan’s spending on higher education remains far below regional averages, leaving public universities starved of funds.

Rising tuition fees, hostel charges, and transportation costs are pushing thousands—especially students from low-income families—out of universities.

Economic pressures are forcing many students to abandon degree programs and join the job market prematurely. Meanwhile, public institutions lack sufficient seats to absorb demand, and professional councils continue to cap admissions in fields such as engineering, medicine, and law, creating annual bottlenecks that exclude thousands of qualified applicants.

The misalignment between academic programs and market needs is also eroding the value of degrees. Weak industry-academia linkages have led to poor employment outcomes, particularly for graduates in arts and humanities.

Gender inequalities persist, as safety concerns and social norms continue to suppress female enrollment. Language barriers—especially for students from Urdu- and regional-language backgrounds—further restrict access to English-medium instruction.

Another major obstacle is a pervasive information gap: thousands of students miss out on scholarships, degree programs, and career pathways simply because they are unaware of available opportunities.

A System Growing in Size but Shrinking in Equity

While the government highlights rising admissions as evidence of progress, the underlying data paints a far more troubling picture. Pakistan’s higher education sector is expanding in numbers but collapsing in terms of equity, affordability, and relevance.

Without significant reforms—ranging from increased public investment and industry partnerships to targeted support for underserved regions—the country risks leaving behind an entire generation whose educational aspirations are unmet by an overstretched and unequal system.