The number of out-of-school children in Pakistan has declined slightly to 28%, or fewer than three in every 10 children, while food insecurity has risen sharply across all provinces, an official survey revealed on Thursday.
According to the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), conducted between September 2024 and June 2025, the total number of out-of-school children dropped from 25.3 million to around 20 million based on updated population figures from the 2023 census.
The survey was released after a six-year gap, following encouragement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The survey showed a marginal improvement in school enrolment, with the out-of-school rate declining from 30% to 28% nationwide. However, disparities remain stark.
One in four boys and nearly one in three girls remain out of school, with rural girls in Sindh and Balochistan facing the highest exclusion.
Provincially, Punjab recorded no improvement, with its out-of-school rate unchanged at 21%, though it remains the lowest in the country.
Sindh reduced its rate from 42% to 39%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 31% to 28%, while Balochistan showed the biggest improvement, cutting the rate from 59% to 45%.
Of the 28% out-of-school children, 20% never enrolled, while 8% dropped out. Boys often left school to work or due to high education costs, while girls primarily dropped out due to financial hardship and family restrictions.
Overall, the proportion of people aged 10 and above who have ever attended school rose from 61% to 67%, while literacy increased from 60% to 63%.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal termed the progress inadequate, saying Pakistan cannot achieve sustainable growth with such low literacy.
The survey highlighted a sharp rise in food insecurity, driven by prolonged inflation and weak economic growth. Nearly one-fourth of households now face moderate or severe food insecurity.
Punjab saw food insecurity jump from 14.4% to 22.6%, with severe food insecurity almost doubling.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it rose from 16.7% to 21.5%, while Sindh recorded a 10% increase to 29%. The situation was most alarming in Balochistan, where food insecurity doubled to over 30%.
Low-income households faced nearly five times higher risk than the richest groups.
Despite government ambitions for a digital Pakistan, connectivity remains uneven. Mobile phone usage fell from 91% to 83%, while only 12% of individuals own a bank account, and 9% use mobile money services.
At the household level, internet access improved from 34% to 69%, and mobile access rose to 96%, but ownership of computers dropped sharply to 7%. Digital skills remain basic, particularly among women.
The survey reported improvements in health indicators. The infant mortality rate declined from 60 to 47 deaths per 1,000 live births, while overall mortality fell from 41 to 35. Access to water within household premises also improved from 74% to 79%.
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