ISLAMABAD
A staggering new government report, “Public Financing in Education 2025–26,” has signaled a national emergency for Pakistan’s schools.
The data reveals a system crumbling under the weight of record-low funding, leaving millions of children without basic literacy or a place to learn.
The numbers are haunting: over 25 million children are currently out of school. Even for those lucky enough to attend, the quality of education is in freefall. Roughly 77% of 10-year-olds in Pakistan are considered “virtually illiterate,” unable to read or understand a basic sentence. Experts warn this crisis threatens the country’s future economic stability and social growth.
A major reason for this decline is a lack of financial priority. While international standards suggest higher spending, Pakistan’s education budget has plummeted to a worrying 0.8% of its GDP for the 2024–25 period. This is a sharp drop from previous years, leading to overcrowded classrooms, a lack of trained teachers, and schools that even lack basic water or electricity.
The report also highlights a dark spot in special education, which remains almost entirely ignored. Children with disabilities are frequently denied their right to learn due to a total lack of specialized staff and equipment. Without a massive and immediate shift in government spending, the report suggests that simply enrolling children won’t be enough; the very foundation of the nation’s learning must be rebuilt to prevent a “lost generation.”
