Girls' education first

Girls often face barriers to education long before they step into a classroom. Concerns about safety, harassment and social restrictions limit their mobility, preventing them from attending school or even accessing basic public spaces. These restrictions often stem from societal fears surrounding a girl's chastity and honour.

The number of girls in schools remains lower compared to that of boys, largely because it is still not given the same priority. This gap can be seen in the alarming number of children out of school — approximately 25 million nationwide — with dropout rates among girls particularly high at both primary and secondary levels. Poverty, child marriage, unsafe learning environments and rigid social norms continue to deter girls from classrooms and limit their chances for a better future.

I once witnessed a striking example of this in rural Pakistan. I met a family of three daughters who lived with their widowed mother. The family struggled with poverty, and societal pressures demanded large dowries for marriage. When the eldest daughter married, delays in fulfilling dowry promises caused distress and tragedy.

The remaining sisters, however, chose education over early marriage. They pursued studies, gained skills and later married partners who valued their intellect and character, not their wealth. Their education gave them autonomy, free thinking and the ability to make informed life choices. From then on, they began to live a much happier and more secure life.

When a girl receives an education, the benefits extend far beyond herself. She supports and uplifts her family, contributing to its stability and growth. Communities with educated women experience lower child mortality rates, higher household incomes and greater social progress — clear proof that educating girls uplifts entire nations.

The daughters who are given a chance often stand worthy of it. Dr Sharmeen Fayyaz, a virologist, won the Best Young Researcher Award at the Kazan Global Youth Summit 2025. Zoha Waqas Aslam Malik, a graduate of LUMS, received the Diana Award 2024 for her work in environmental literacy and mentoring underprivileged students. Tanzeela Qambrani, the first woman from the Sheedi community elected to the Sindh Provincial Assembly, holds a postgraduate degree in computer science. These women prove that educated daughters can excel in science, leadership and social impact, transforming not only their own lives but also society around them.

Failure to educate lies within. Pakistan spends less than 2% of its GDP on education - among the lowest in South Asia. Rural schools are often distant, unsafe or lack female teachers. Families struggling with poverty continue to prioritise sons' education, while daughters' schooling is seen as optional. Policy reforms alone cannot overcome these challenges; social attitudes must evolve.

Progress in girls' education will remain elusive until it becomes a genuine national priority rather than a recurring pledge. Zambia's GEWEL 2 programme, for instance, has enabled over 100,000 adolescent girls to stay in school while expanding economic opportunities for their families. In Burundi, free primary education introduced in 2005 lifted female literacy to nearly 75% by 2022.

In China, nine years of compulsory schooling and the Spring Bud Project have nearly eliminated dropout rates among girls, especially in low-income communities. If such nations can achieve measurable gains, what prevents us from doing the same?

For Pakistan, with nearly half of its 240 million people being female, the stakes are enormous. Educating daughters is not charity — it is national interest. Girls are not only daughters, sisters or future mothers; they are agents of change and future leaders. Every year that millions of girls remain out of school is another year of lost economic growth, political stability and social justice.

The question is not whether Pakistan can afford to educate its daughters, but whether it can afford not to. Educating sons strengthens individuals; educating daughters strengthens entire generations. A son's education creates opportunity; a daughter's education creates change. The decision lies with the parents whether to choose a single success or to enlighten a whole household.