Islamabad, 26-Jan-2026 (PPI): A stark new analysis indicates that a quarter of all districts in Pakistan are facing a severe lack of employment opportunities, with 36 out of 129 administrative areas showing an unemployment-to-population ratio of more than 20 percent, according to a recent report.

The findings are detailed in the District Vulnerability Index Pakistan (DVIP) 2025 report, published by the Population Council. The study highlights significant regional disparities in economic distress across the nation.

The report identifies extreme contrasts within the country, with Panjgur in Balochistan recording the highest unemployment-to-population figure at a staggering 36 percent. Conversely, Karachi Central in Sindh registered the lowest national ratio at approximately six percent.

This metric provides a broader perspective on joblessness than the more commonly cited unemployment rate. The unemployment-to-population ratio calculates the proportion of jobless individuals within the entire potential working-age population (ages 10 to 64), regardless of whether they are actively seeking work.

In contrast, the official unemployment rate, last recorded at 7.1 percent by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, measures joblessness only within the "labour force"—those who are employed or actively looking for employment. Pakistan’s working-age population stands at over 163 million, while its labour force is approximately 83.1 million, just half of the potential pool of workers.

The provincial breakdown reveals Balochistan is the most affected region. All 31 of its districts reported ratios above 12.5 percent, with 25 districts surpassing the 20 percent mark and four exceeding 30 percent. The figures in the province ranged from 12.5 percent in Sohbatpur to 35.9 percent in Panjgur.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 out of 32 districts recorded ratios between 20.1 and 30 percent. The provincial figures varied from 9.4 percent in Abbottabad to a high of 29.5 percent in North and South Waziristan.

Sindh demonstrated a mixed outlook, with only one district, Sujawal (22.7 percent), crossing the 20 percent threshold. The province’s ratios spanned from the national low of 5.7 percent in Karachi Central to Sujawal’s high figure, with 22 districts falling between 10.1 and 20 percent.

Punjab emerged as the province with the lowest overall unemployment vulnerability. None of its 36 districts surpassed the 20 percent ratio, with figures ranging from 6.8 percent in Gujrat to 17.2 percent in Muzaffargarh. The Islamabad Capital Territory also recorded a relatively low figure of 8.4 percent.