In Pakistan, university enrollment has significantly decreased, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25, which was published shortly before the government budget.

According to the report, the overall number of students enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions decreased by 13% to 1.94 million in FY 2023. Even though there are 269 universities in the nation, this decline is still occurring.

This decline is attributed by the poll to a number of factors, such as changing demographics and economic difficulties. There is a little bright spot, though, as enrollment is expected to increase by 0.8 percent in FY 2024, reaching an estimated 1.95 million members.

The persistent difficulties in gaining entry to and staying in higher education are highlighted by the declining trend in university enrollment, which contrasts with slight growth at other educational levels.

Pakistan records a 61% literacy rate

Pakistan's Economic Survey 2024-25 reports that the country's literacy rate is at 61%.

Men in Pakistan are 68 percent literate, while women are 52.8 percent literate, according to the report.

There are 269 universities in Pakistan. Over 109 private institutions and 160 public universities among them. Pakistan has set aside Rs61.1 billion for the field of higher education. There are 38 PhD academic members in all in Pakistan.

Transgender people have a literacy rate of 40.15 percent, which is significantly higher in metropolitan regions (42.4 percent). Transgender people in rural areas had a literacy rate of 32.94 percent.

The greatest literacy rate among transgender people, at 44.67 percent, is found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The literacy rate is 48.5% in urban regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 39.3% in rural areas.

The literacy rate for transgender people in Punjab is 41.5 percent, with urban regions having a rate of 43.4 percent and rural areas having a rate of 34.5 percent.

Sindh's transgender population is 37.5% literate, with 27 percent residing in rural areas and 39.3% in urban areas. Balochistan's transgender population has a literacy rate of 29% in its cities, 22% in its rural areas, and 25% altogether.