Pakistan, June 9 -- ISLAMABAD - Pakistan spent less than one percent of its GDP on education and health during the fiscal year 2024-25, according to the latest Economic Survey released on Monday. This low investment in critical sectors has raised concerns among experts about the country's long-term development and human capital.

The report states that only 0.8% of GDP was allocated to the education sector this year. Meanwhile, the national literacy rate stood at 60.6%. A gender gap persists, as male literacy was recorded at 68%, while female literacy lagged behind at 52.8%.

Currently, Pakistan has a total of 269 universities, of which 160 are public and 109 are private institutions. Under the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Rs61.1 bi...