Pakistan - Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Treaty

This report addresses Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, focusing on the education, information and civic freedoms necessary for individuals to participate in public life and effectively claim their rights. Despite existing legal protections, severe inequalities in educational access, restrictions on independent information, forced and early marriage, and a shrinking civic space continue to undermine the enjoyment of Covenant rights.

The report examines key concerns including (1) barriers to education and civic learning, including the removal of Afghan students, severe regional disparities in Balochistan, declining public investment, high learning poverty and the absence of civic and human rights education; (2) restrictions on human security and civic freedom through the intimidation of journalists, restrictions on independent media and the criminalisation of allegedly false information; (3) forced and early marriage and its effects on girls’ education and economic autonomy, particularly among religious minorities; and (4) the shrinking of civic space through preventive detention, movement restrictions, internet shutdowns and discrimination on the basis of political opinion. 

Accordingly, the report recommends that Pakistan protect equal access to education, particularly for Afghan students, girls and disadvantaged regions; restore and increase investment in education and introduce compulsory civic and human rights education; strengthen protections for journalists and independent media; establish 18 as the minimum marriage age throughout the country and strengthen protections against forced marriage and religious conversion; and ensure that preventive detention, road closures and internet shutdowns do not arbitrarily restrict access to education, work, healthcare or participation in public life.