Pakistan is facing challenges in affording food and education, as revealed by a recent Gallup survey. Over the past 20 years, there has been a noticeable shift in household spending patterns, with a decrease in money allocated to food and an increase in expenses related to housing and utilities. The Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) data indicates a decline in the share of household expenditure on food from 43% to 37% between 2005 and 2025, while housing and utilities now constitute a quarter of household budgets.
The trend of reduced spending on food is attributed to households grappling with rising fixed costs such as housing and utilities, rather than food becoming more affordable. The analysis also highlights a concerning rise in moderate-to-severe food insecurity among Pakistanis, with the proportion increasing from one in six to one in four between 2018-19 and 2024-25. This situation poses significant challenges for the current population and raises doubts about future prospects.
The burden of education expenses has significantly shifted towards families in Pakistan, marking a historic first for the nation. According to The News International, the Institute of Social and Policy Science (I-SAP) reported that household spending now accounts for the majority of education costs. Out of the total education expenditure of Rs5.03 trillion, households contribute PKR 2.8 trillion, while the public sector contributes PKR 2.23 trillion.
The disparity in education spending is evident, with PKR 1.31 trillion allocated to private school fees, PKR 613 billion to tuition and shadow education, and PKR 878 billion to other educational expenses. This discrepancy underscores the preference for private education due to concerns about the public education system’s adequacy. The editorial also notes that around 20 million children are out of school, emphasizing the importance of public investment in education to enhance Pakistan’s human capital and overall living standards.
