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A Dire Situation That Demands Change

By Asghar Nasar

"I am the destroyer of idols in this city,
I hold the Imamate of love in this city."

The Constitution of Pakistan, under the 18th Amendment (2010), guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of five and sixteen. Yet, in Balochistan’s underdeveloped districts, the education sector continues to face grave challenges.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, Balochistan recorded a 54.5% literacy rate in FY2024 — meaning nearly half of the province remains uneducated. When broken down, the situation is even more alarming: male literacy stands at just 38%, while female literacy is a shocking 13%. In many districts recently visited by our team (Future Pakistan), female literacy rates fall below 10%, leaving 90% of women and girls without education.

Despite the presence of 11 public and 50 private universities, most institutions struggle to deliver quality education. Tribal customs often reinforce gender segregation, with strong cultural notions of ghairat (honor) keeping girls confined to domestic roles.

In Loralai district, with a population nearing one million, education infrastructure is inadequate. Only 28% of schools are for girls, and 81% of girls remain out of school compared to 69% of boys. The district has just two high schools, two colleges, one medical college, and a single university for girls, with most middle schools poorly maintained and lacking basic facilities.

In my village, Allam Baq Khail (Nasar tribe), not a single girl among 140 households has studied beyond grade five. While Islam emphasizes the right of women to seek knowledge, cultural barriers and weak governance have denied them this right.

Balochistan urgently needs female professionals, especially doctors and nurses, which is only possible through education. For meaningful change, the government must strengthen education infrastructure and establish separate institutions for boys and girls, aligning reforms with local mindsets. Without this, breaking cultural barriers will remain nearly impossible.

— Asghar Nasar
Economist, Researcher, and Member of Future Pakistan Team
([email protected]