“The world has moved at a higher pace in the past 30-35 years with the latest technology, but we have lagged behind due to policies and intentionally not allowing our youth to raise sane and intelligent voices against injustice, and not allowing them awareness of their rights.”
Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was highlighting Pakistan’s missed opportunities over the past three decades while speaking at a session on the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund at Dr Ziauddin University on Saturday, emphasising the urgent need to realign the country’s education system with global realities and technological progress.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s economic trajectory, Siddiqui noted: “In the 1960s we were moving towards industrialisation, but in 2025 we’re heading towards deindustrialisation.”
He cautioned against false comparisons. “Some optimists compare this with the United States, which is also going through deindustrialisation, but there’s a major difference. In the US it’s due to high technological advancements, while in Pakistan it’s quite the opposite.”
During the interactive session, he responded candidly to several questions. “It’s undeniable that there’s a vast difference between government and private sector education,” he said on disparities in the education system.
“But we must realise that nations prosper together, not as individuals. This is what we’re working on: to bring government education on a par with private education.”
On gender roles in the health sector, he said: “Male nursing should be encouraged in Pakistan, and we can even sign MoUs with international universities to establish their centres in Pakistan to promote our talent.”
Addressing concerns about brain drain, he remarked: “If we’re unable to provide our youth with the right education, and jobs according to their skill sets, remittances are a better option. Even an engineer is working as a food rider in Pakistan, so it’s better to have brain train than brain drain.”
The minister reaffirmed the government’s resolve to strengthen the endowment fund as a long-term instrument for inclusive growth. He emphasised that the state, academia and private sector must work collectively to equip the youth with relevant skills, ensure access to quality education, and safeguard Pakistan’s intellectual future.
