Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space.
Education, our priorities
Pakistan’s education system has once again been relegated to the low-performance category. This persistent underachievement underscores a grave challenge facing the nation, the deteriorating quality of education. It is increasingly evident that our inability to progress as a nation is intricately linked to our failing educational infrastructure. Recent policy decisions have exacerbated this issue. The current government’s significant reduction in the education budget, a move that starkly contradicts the pressing need for reform, signals a troubling disregard for the fundamental role of education in national development.
Diminished financial support for education not only impairs the immediate quality of schooling but also undermines long-term economic and social progress. Moreover, the ramifications of this underfunding are starkly visible in the ongoing brain drain. Talented young individuals, who should be contributing to the nation’s growth, are instead seeking opportunities abroad where educational and professional prospects are more promising. This exodus of skilled human capital further weakens our country’s potential for innovation and development. Education is not merely an academic pursuit; it is the cornerstone of all societal advancement.
It is closely linked to economic growth, technological innovation, and overall national progress. A robust education system cultivates a skilled workforce, drives economic expansion, and fosters a culture of innovation. When education is neglected, the repercussions are felt across all sectors, stifling progress and limiting the nation’s potential. The recent report serves as a crucial reminder of the need to reassess our priorities and reinforce our commitment to educational excellence. Only through sustained and strategic investment in education can Pakistan hope to overcome its current challenges and pave the way for a more prosperous future.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Reforming pension system
Pakistan’s pension system, a long-standing mechanism for ensuring financial support to retired government employees, is now at the centre of the nation’s economic challenges. Historically developed under weak frameworks, this system has turned into a fiscal burden, particularly as the country grapples with over $87 billion in debt. Economists and financial experts, including the current Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, have highlighted the pension system as a potential “time bomb” threatening the fragile national economy.
Globally, pensions are a standard practice, with many countries maintaining robust pension structures despite economic fluctuations. These countries, however, have strong financial frameworks to back their systems. In contrast, Pakistan provides government employees with lifetime pensions post-retirement, which, upon their death, are transferred to their surviving spouses. This generous provision, while a critical safety net for retirees, consumes a significant portion of the national budget. Currently, more than a quarter of Pakistan’s annual budget is spent on pensions, with over one trillion rupees allocated for this purpose in the most recent fiscal year—a 122 billion rupee increase from the previous year.
As Pakistan struggles with its financial crisis, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has introduced an agenda of economic reforms. These reforms aim to include the privatization of non-strategic state institutions, the right-sizing of government departments, and a revision of pension laws. However, the success of these initiatives hinges on the government’s ability to generate the necessary revenue, a feat that is unlikely to be achieved without addressing the pervasive corruption that plagues the nation’s economy. In addition to pension reforms, economic experts have advocated for the government to withdraw certain subsidies, such as those provided for electricity, fuel, and gas.
GULAB UMID
Turbat
Crises in education
The President and Prime Minister both leaders underscored the need for every Pakistani to have the opportunity to learn and contribute to the fostering of a more prosperous nation. Both leaders went on to underscore the urgent need to enroll Pakistan’s 26 million out-of-school children and referenced the education emergency declared by the government back in May to address the growing education crisis.
From creaking school infrastructure, where even basic amenities like electricity, toilets and boundary walls are often missing, to an inadequate number of qualified teachers and the lack of budgetary allocations for this vital sphere resulting in persistently low enrolment and high dropout figures, and also contributing to our dismal literacy rate of 62 percent. The grim picture painted by the 2023 population census further confirms the decaying state of education as it shows that 20 million children have never even stepped inside a school, and more than 5.3 million dropped out at some stage.
There is also a very obvious need to upgrade school infrastructure, as well as to ensure that adequate numbers of qualified teachers are employed in institutions all over the country. This necessitates enhancing education budgets at both the federal and provincial levels. Moreover, it would be equally crucial to address more deep-seated issues, including poverty and cultural barriers, with the ultimate goal being to get more children into schools and impart them with the learning and skills necessary for future success.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
