ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s adult literacy rate has increased to 57 per cent in 2012-13 from 55pc in the previous year.

The adult literacy rate is based on 15-year plus age group. It is on lower side in women all over the country with few exceptions of major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. It is highest in Punjab with 50pc and lowest in Balochistan with 18pc.

These are the findings of Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2012-13 conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The survey covered 75,520 households all over the country.

The adult literacy rate in Islamabad is 84pc. Karachi with 81pc has highest among districts and Kohlu with 8pc lowest.The literacy level of population in age group of 10 years and above has risen to 60pc from 58pc during the year under review. Literacy remains much higher in urban areas than in rural areas and much higher in men than in women.

Punjab with 62pc has the highest literacy level and Balochistan with 44pc the lowest. Islamabad with 86pc and Rawalpindi and Karachi with 82pc are on the higher side. Dera Bugti with 16pc has the lowest literacy rate in this category.

The net enrolment rate (NER) for primary schools (age 5-9) at national level has increased marginally to 57pc from 56pc. Punjab leads with 62pc and Balochistan with 45pc has the lowest rate.

The NER in Islamabad was recorded at 82pc. At the district level, Chakwal with 83pc is at the top and Dera Bugti with 9pc is at the bottom.