Literacy Rate of Education in Pakistan 2016

Pakistan is among the most densely populated countries of the world. Currently, over 180 million people reside here making it the 6th most populous country of the world. People belonging to various casts, culture and color can be found. The overall literacy rate has always been a huge concern here.

Pakistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world and according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), it is 55 per cent and Pakistan stands at 160th in total countries of the world.

Many schools and colleges are entering the education industry especially in various big cities of Pakistan but those living in rural areas are on a greater loss. Even if children want to study, they can’t, due to lack of resources or family pressure. The main reason for families not allowing their children especially girls to study is again illiteracy.

Literacy_Map_Pakistan

Proper education provides a child with lifelong benefits. It does not just give you knowledge, but also makes you a better person. It provides you with social acceptability in the society and gives you empowerment regarding decision making, problem solving and even multi-tasking. Education should not be considered as a want in fact, it should be perceived as a need for every living human being on earth.

The general understanding of literacy is to be able to read and write but unfortunately millions of people in Pakistan are deprived of even that. Pakistan is divided into multiple provinces and each province is facing different literacy scenarios.

Punjab

Having over 56% of countries population makes Punjab one of the most populous provinces of Pakistan. It consists of many important cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Multan, Sialkot and so on. Over 3.8 million illiterate people currently reside in Punjab. This means that millions of people over the age of 15 cannot read or write in any language.

There are only six districts in Punjab that have above 70pc literacy rate. They are Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Gujrat. Most of the improvements have been seen at the primary level. Still a lot of work needs to be done in order to bring a bigger change.

Sindh

Known for having a population of over 25 million people, Sindh can be called the most populated province of Pakistan. As far as its literacy rates are concerned, they are below 50 percent in rural areas. Karachi is leading the race and the rest are not even on the second or third position. Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Larkana and Jamshoro are a few other cities that can see a reasonable amount of literacy rate. On the whole, many children are deprived of education due to which a greater percentage of child labor can also be witnessed.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Due to increasing security threats, families here are always concerned about sending children to schools. According to a recent report, the overall literacy rate in this province is 50%. Peshawar is among the most densely populated cities of KPK and is known for having a number of private and public schools. Some of the other major cities such as Mansehra, Mardana and Mingora are still deprived of a proper educational system.

Balochistan

For being an arid desert and a mountainous region, this province has always had hardships in building school based amenities. Just over one-quarter (28%) of the population 10 years and over is literate, with males 39% and females 16%. The barren land plays the role of a barrier in most of the cities resulting in a very poor literacy rate.

It is a challenge for Pakistan to improve its literacy rate and the situation demands that the government rethink the whole issue of literacy. Children are among the most valuable assets to any country and they need to be provided with proper education no matter what circumstances. Education works as a foundation for any child, it needs to be strong and firm in order to change the face of Pakistan.

64 replies
  1. Kalim Ullah Khan
    Kalim Ullah Khan says:

    I request the govt of Pakistan to take a fare and sincere interest for the development and education of their poor citizens. It is the pioneer responsibility of the govt of Pakistan to take bold action regarding to this issue.

    Reply
  2. Samreena
    Samreena says:

    Behind every blue sky there is a silver lining. May Allah grant Pakistan the best among all. Educatiin awareness should also be promoted as for females i have heard a common typical dialogue “haandi roti hi krni ha parh k kia karay gi” and this makes me furious, but being a teacher i guide them a lot.

    Reply
    • Kumail
      Kumail says:

      Pakistan has a position in literacy rates around the world. it is on the 199th position out of 215 literate countries. (correct me if I’m wrong)

      Reply
  3. muhammad rafique
    muhammad rafique says:

    Pakistan is far behind in litracy because if we define literate person just peimry pass We will not achieve 50%rate.Govt take serios concern about this matter.

    Reply
  4. muhammad rafique
    muhammad rafique says:

    Pakistan is far behind in litracy because if we define literate person just peimry pass We will not achieve 50%rate.Govt take serious concern about this matter.

    Reply
  5. Shariq Vohra
    Shariq Vohra says:

    litteracy Rate in Sindh has actually gone down .we have conducted research in the sub urbs of Karachi. In last 5 years no of students in the Government Schools specially Girls has drastically gone down and No of Maderasa have increased.
    If this research can help you to help education in Sindh please visit our School in Gadap Town Hammal Goth , some 15 KMS off super Highway on the main Gadap road

    Reply
  6. Muhammad Sharif
    Muhammad Sharif says:

    Pakistan should see to the literacy rate of Gilgit Baltistan, We have almost 100% literacy rate Alhamdu lillah. And we will keep it up, insha Allah.

    Reply
  7. Salis Iqbal Mazari
    Salis Iqbal Mazari says:

    But what is comprehensive definition of literacy? Is just own name write considered literate person?

    Here we are not going to compare our areas with other one, we are a nation and Pakistan is our country, We have to think about its critical situation of education, What is allocated budget for primary education , in percentage ?

    Why elected and elected governments are not taking interest for increasing literacy rate. Even in 21sth century , most of schools in remote areas are “Ghost”.

    Reply
  8. Aftab
    Aftab says:

    We Pakistanis have developed a habit of escaping the situation by saying “InshAllah”. Of-course only Allah can make this nation (if it is a nation) literate, otherwise, we Pakistanis are going to do nothing.

    Reply
  9. Jia Chaudhary
    Jia Chaudhary says:

    In NEP 2009 it was expected that the literacy rate will be 86% almost in 2015 but its still below 60%. we should make some new strategies to improve it…

    Reply
  10. Syed noman Ali
    Syed noman Ali says:

    first and foremost we make our education system more authentic so that 50% of literacy is also need some development phase to meet the global standard.

    Reply
  11. Nisar Ahmed
    Nisar Ahmed says:

    If we do education free,scholarship,jobs,internships,technical education then illiteracy ratio will Automatically increases..!

    Reply
  12. MK Tahir
    MK Tahir says:

    ان پاکستانی حکمرانوں کے ہوتے ہوے ملک کی خوندگی میں آضافہ ہو یہ ممکن ہی نہیں ہے اور ستم بالائے ستم یہ کہ ہم اس سب کی توقع بھی اللہ سے لگائے بیٹھے ہیں، ذمین پہ جسے اللہ نے اشرف المخوقات بناکے بھیجا ہے وہی پھر اللہ سے توقع رکھتے ہیں کہ ان کی ذمہ داری بھی اللہ نبھائے۔ سبحان اللہ اس قوم پر اور اس قوم کے حکمرانوں پر۔

    Reply
  13. murad ali
    murad ali says:

    Lol!!!they hide fata …galgit baltistan and a ad Kashmir..even in map..total population of these three part is 10 million and 100000 km square area ..then why they hide it ???? If they cannot consider it Pakistan area then give them indepent … Maybe IRS make By Pakistan enemy or else ..but i

    Reply
  14. Omar
    Omar says:

    Why can we all pool our resources and finances as individuals and do something ourselves by being pro-active. We should focus on the area that are very low such as in eastern sindh, North eastern Balochistan and Kohistan region of KPK. Im sure if we the people put some effort and money into the idea (Crowd funding) we can make a positive impact on our country

    Reply
  15. shaheer khan
    shaheer khan says:

    l prey for Pakistan one day they achieve the higher target in literacy rate and become at he world s first educated county through out the world inshaAllah

    Reply
  16. khurshid
    khurshid says:

    Most of people here said inshahallah, but we must remember that it is the law of Allah, He never change the situation of a person or nation who never bother to change his or her situation. So be practical and be aware that Allah has nothing to do here but the nation has to. look at the figures, we are lower in education in the region except afghanistan. how can we go ahead with this ratio? only awaiting miracals? social and economic development is directly linked with the education and we are far behind. yet existing education is not quality education.

    Reply
  17. Muhammad jaffar Mir
    Muhammad jaffar Mir says:

    I hope pakistan will become a 100 % literate country but its impossible without contribution of our politicians,masses,and the thinker’s so they should take stand against illiteracy and root out this in our society otherwise it seems very difficult for us to remove it from our country…

    Reply
  18. RAHMAT ULLAH KAKAR
    RAHMAT ULLAH KAKAR says:

    Except in Punjab the literacy rate has been decreased from 2012-2013 in other Provinces,especially in Rural Areas.How one day we will be to achieve 100% Literacy rate in Pakistan.Only Punjab Province is not Pakistan.The Federal Govt.should take the immediate notice of what is going in other provinces.why Provincs are not answerable.Should they continue their ill planning & looting Govt Exchequer in the name of Education.

    Reply
  19. yasir khalil
    yasir khalil says:

    pakistan ky sab province govts co chahy k wo balochistan k bahio k liy schools collages or univresty gift kary apny province k budget sy ta k wo hamry bhai b 50 70 90 % corss kary or ye inka haq ha ……..

    Reply
  20. PROF NASIR HAMID HAMEEDEE
    PROF NASIR HAMID HAMEEDEE says:

    I AM CONTRIBUTING A NEW CONCEPT OF LITERACY AND THAT IS : WEIGHTED LITERACY. A PERSON ENGAGED WITH DRIVING AND WORKING AS A DRIVER HAS SOME SPECIFIC LEVEL OF LITERACY, A PAKISTANI SERVING ABROAD HAS SOME SOME LEVEL OF LITERACY THOUGH APPARENTLY HE IS WITHOUT SCHOOLING, A FARMER WHO CULTIVATES LAND IS NOT ABSOLUTELY ILLITERATE, SIMILARLY THE LABOR CASS WHICH IS ALSO VERY SIGNIFICANT IN THE LAND OF THE PURE MUST HAVE A PECULIAR TRAIT OF LITERACY…….WHY NOT WE ASSIGN WEIGHT TO THE SECTIONS OF SOCIETY AFTER A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY SO THAT WEIGHT-AGE MAY BE DETERMINED FOR THE MUCH NEEDED CENSUS EVEN AFTER 18 YEARS.

    Reply
  21. Dinar hussain
    Dinar hussain says:

    Pakistan spend only 1.7percent OF its GDP on education . It is too low according to UNO standard a country must spend 4 percent of its GDP on education.

    Reply
  22. Muhammad zakaria
    Muhammad zakaria says:

    we are always remain in hope motion ..but never try to change his /her hope n reality ……what we do very one know but we don’t b/c we have no time time to how to straggle to change his/her position …

    Reply
  23. Arshid ali
    Arshid ali says:

    it is very painful to say that developing countries like like Sri laka and Nepal have the highest literacy rate in the world ,,,,,,,
    There is dire need to bring educational changes in the country and bring educational reform in the counry…..

    Reply
  24. Hasan Nasim
    Hasan Nasim says:

    I am not watching community wise, i means sectarian wise literacy rate in Pakistan & else where in all Islamic countries. Please if possible show this data also. Thanks.

    Reply

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