Gender Gap Persists as Pakistan’s Literacy Rate Climbs to 61%

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan’s national literacy rate has reached 61 percent, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 released ahead of the federal budget. However, the figures reveal a continuing gender disparity in access to education.

The survey shows that male literacy stands at 68 percent, while the female literacy rate lags behind at 52.8 percent, underlining a significant gender gap in educational attainment across the country.

Pakistan is home to 269 universities, including 160 in the public sector and 109 privately run institutions. This diverse higher education landscape is poised for further expansion, as the federal government has earmarked Rs 61.1 billion for the sector in the upcoming fiscal year.

In a positive development, 38 percent of university faculty now hold PhD degrees, indicating a growing pool of highly qualified academic staff and enhanced research capacity in the country’s higher education institutions.