Pakistan's Education System Faces Electricity Access Challenges

Hundreds of schools in Pakistan do not have access to electricity, which gives an idea about the glaring disparities in the Pakistani education system. The Economic Survey 2024-25 shows that about 33 percent of schools across the country continue to run without electricity, the condition being worst in Sindh and Balochistan.

This survey shows that access to electricity in schools is very poor with just 31 percent of all schools in Sindh being electrified and only 27 percent of primary schools are grid-connected. The situation is further dire in Balochistan where just 15 percent of primary schools and 21 percent of all schools, in general, are electrified.

This is compared to Punjab which demonstrates almost universal access with 98 percent of primary schools and 100 percent of middle, high and higher secondary schools electrified. The federal territory (ICT) boasts of a cent percent coverage at all levels.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is comparatively better off, as 85 per cent of primary and 99 per cent of higher secondary schools are connected to power. Gilgit-Baltistan comes second with 70 percent school coverage.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is also lagging far behind with only 32 percent primary schools and 43 percent of all schools electrified.

Nationally, the situation in terms of electricity availability is better in institutions of higher education with only 62 percent of primary schools having access to power grid while the figure rises to 95 percent at higher secondary level.