urat-ul Ain hails from a small village in Muzaffargarh. She had always been a bright student. Despite the limited resources available in her village, she excelled in her primary education. Her parents, who were farmers, were incredibly proud of her achievements. When Qurat-ul Ain completed her primary education, she dreamt of pursuing higher studies. She wanted to be a teacher and help other children in her village learn. However, she discovered that there were no secondary schools in her village. To continue her education, she would need to travel several miles to the nearest town. Qurat-ul Ain had to discontinue her education. There are thousands of girls like Qurat-ul Ain, who cannot continue their passion to learn due to a lack of secondary schools.

According to the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2019-2020, Pakistan’s overall literacy rate stands at around 60 percent for individuals aged 10 and above. However, there is a significant gender gap, with male literacy rate standing at 71 percent and female literacy at 49 percent. Gender disparities in education remain a challenge in Pakistan. Enrollment and retention rates for girls are often lower than those for boys, particularly in rural areas. Female literacy remains a complex challenge.

The barriers to girls’ education in Pakistan are multifaceted and deeply intertwined. Deep-rooted cultural norms often prioritise boys’ education and learning over that of girls. Societal expectations and gender roles can discourage some parents from sending their daughters to school. Poverty plays a substantial role in limiting girls’ access to education. Families struggling to make ends meet may prioritise the education of their sons due to perceived economic benefits. The recent economic crisis and inflation has led to a decrease in household income and an increase in the cost of living. Families may struggle to meet their basic needs, making it challenging to allocate funds for education-related expenses such as school fee, uniforms and transportation. This has resulted in families being forced to make difficult decisions regarding their children’s education, including the possibility of discontinuing their daughters’ formal education. Lack of nearby schools and transportation options in rural areas pose significant barriers.

Pakistan is the fifth most populated country in the world with a population of more than 240 million. 64 percent of the population is under 30 years of age, half of which are women. It is estimated that 29 percent of the population falls in the 15-29 age brackets, with 50 percent being female. In 2022, Pakistan’s unemployment rate was 6.4 percent. The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population is known as the NEET rate. According to Gallup Pakistan, the NEET rate of Pakistan is 37 percent. This means more than 22 million youth aged 15-29 are neither studying nor in employment.

In Pakistan, more than 60 percent of population lives in the rural areas. Due to the persistent gender disparity, it is vital to focus on measures for the attainment of education and accessibility of learning for girls. Pakistan ranks at the bottom of both regional and global ranking tables of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2023. In the main global gender gap index, Pakistan is ranked 142 out of 146 countries. Pakistan ranks 138 out of 146 in the subindex of education attainment.

To improve educational opportunities for girls in Pakistan, secondary schools, particularly in rural regions, must be established. The establishment of primary schools has resulted in some success stories. Attention must now be paid to doing the same for secondary schools. One solution for this is public-private cooperation.

Another crucial component that requires significant attention is launching and enhancing transport for girls to reach their educational destinations. This will significantly help improve the numbers, as girls face major hurdles when travelling considerable distances to schools and risk facing harassment in public spaces or on public transportation. Due to this, parents either put off their daughters’ education or forbid them from going to school. The distance to schools is the second most common reason parents cite for not sending daughters to schools. To increase early enrolment and address gender gaps, conditional cash transfers that reward parents for sending their kids to school, with a focus on girls, may be an effective strategy.

Promoting learning and education for girls in Pakistan requires collective efforts by government, civil society and families. Together, they can set the country on a path towards gender equality in education. Investment in education of girls will pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future, where women can actively participate in all aspects of social and national development.

The writer is a Rawalpindi-based communications specialist and a freelance writer. He can be reached at qureshiwaqas@gmail.com. His X handle is @qureshiwaqasA