In a country that is perpetually facing resource constraints, education is a luxury. The government may indu­lge in grandstanding on May 1, but its words ring hollow when workers lack access to real employment oppo­rtunities.

Without literacy and skills, Pakistan’s demographic dividend is a demographic noose. On the one hand, multinationals selling fast-moving consumer goods see the promise of millions; on the other, those CEOs lament the brain drain and the shortage of skilled labour to fill positions.

However, the lack of investment in education in the country is not specific to times when Pakistan is suffering through the bust period of its boom-bust cycle. Since the 1970s, government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP has averaged at around 2pc, according to the World Bank Data. Globally, on average, countries spend around 4pc, which is also the case for India.

Pakistan ranks third after China and India in terms of its college-aged population. Yet, even in an era of AI-driven potential, without access to meaningful upskilling, the divide will only deepen — not narrow.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, May 5th, 2025