Survey: most Pakistanis deem good education, life, job most important for kids

ISLAMABAD, July 30 (Xinhua) -- According to a survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, more than two third of Pakistanis (78 percent) perceive good education, good standard of living, and good job to be the most important things for their children's future.

The remaining respondents believe living in a terrorism free country (9 percent), religious education (8 percent) and good health (5 percent) to be the most essential.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were read out a list of things they would like the most for their children in the future, and asked "Which of these do you feel is the one most important for your children's future?" The respondents were asked to provide the single most important, from a list of generally desirable choices.

The results show that the opinion was divided between those who said good education is the most essential thing (29 percent), or good standard of living (28 percent), and a good job (21 percent).

Amongst the remaining respondents, 9 percent would want their children to live in a terrorism-free country, 8 percent said religious education is extremely important and only 5 percent said good health is the most important thing for their children.

The data reveals that a proportionately higher percentage of urbanites perceive good education (35 percent) and living in a terrorism free country (15 percent) to be essential for their children as compared to their rural counterparts for whom a good job (24 percent), and good standards of living is the most important.

The latest survey was carried out among a sample of 2,683 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country during July 2009.