Commonwealth Education Online

Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth on 22 November 2007, pending the restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country.
Key facts
Joined Commonwealth: 1947 (left in 1972, rejoined
in 1989)
Capital: Islamabad
Population: 166,961,000(2008)
Population per sqkm: 210 (2008)
GNI p.c. : 1US$ 870 (2007)
Official language: Urdu
Time: GMT plus 5hr
Currency: Pakistan rupee
Public Spending: 2.6% of GDP
Net Primary Enrolment: 66%
Net Secondary Enrolment: 30%
Gross Enrolment (overall): 39%
Primary pupil-teacher Ratio: 39:1
Gross Tertiary Enrolment: 4.5%
Adult Literacy: 55%

Ministry of Education
Pakistan Secretariat
Block D
Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 920 1392
Fax: +92 51 920 2851
Web: www.moe.gov.pk

Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education
Hanna Road
G-8/4
Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 926 2609
Fax: +92 51 926 2610
Public spending on education was 2.6% of GDP in 2006. There are five years of compulsory education starting at age five. Net enrolment ratios are 66% for primary and 30% for secondary, and gross enrolment ratio for all levels combined 39% (2006). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 39:1 (2006). The school year starts in April.
About 4.5% of the relevant age group is enrolled in tertiary education (2006). In May 2009, the Higher Education Commission recognised 124 universities, 68 in the public sector. Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi, opened in 1998 and was Pakistan’s first university exclusively for women. Illiteracy among people aged 15–24 is 30% (2006). There is an extensive literacy programme.
A review of the current National Education Policy 1998–2010 was initiated in September 2005 and a draft Policy was under discussion during 2008–09.
Alif Laila Book Bus Society’s Eliminating Gender Disparities in Secondary Education…and Resource Centres project was short-listed in the 2006 Commonwealth Education Good Practice Awards.
The Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi Public Trust’s project entitled ‘Addressing the Vulnerable through Quality Learning and Protection – Drop-in Centres for Rag Pickers and Child Domestic Labour’ was selected as a finalist in the 2009 Commonwealth Education Good Practice Awards. The idea is to give child labourers access to non-formal education, as well as protection from being victims of sexual trafficking and violence. By January 2009 almost 5,000 children had benefited from this project which had expanded to many states in Pakistan.
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