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........

© The Express Tribune