The global pursuit of gender equality is faltering. According to recent UN forecasts, if current trends persist, eight percent of women and girls globally will still live in extreme poverty by 2030. That figure translates to over 340 million women, primarily in low-income regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, falling short of their basic rights to safety, education, healthcare, and economic dignity. Pakistan, ranked 142 out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, remains deeply entangled in structural inequalities that severely restrict women’s advancement. While legislative frameworks exist on paper, the lack of implementation and deeply rooted cultural attitudes continue to obstruct real progress.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened this scenario by pushing millions of women out of the workforce and deepening their vulnerability. In Pakistan, women’s labor force participation hovers at just 22%, with a staggering gender wage gap of over 30%, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. These disparities are not just numbers; they reflect how social exclusion, legal neglect, and economic discrimination keep half the population from reaching its full potential. If left unaddressed, the gender imbalance will not only undermine Pakistan’s developmental goals but also derail its commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, gender equality.
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To change this trajectory, Pakistan needs to address several interconnected domains where inequality persists. Education is foundational. UNICEF reports that over 12 million girls are currently out of school in Pakistan. This exclusion stems from a range of factors, including inadequate school infrastructure, gender-based cultural norms, and safety concerns that prevent girls from attending school, particularly in rural areas. Programs like the Malala Fund and the Girls’ Stipend Program in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have made some progress, but these efforts remain limited in scale. A comprehensive approach is needed—one that expands girls’ access to education, ensures safe transportation, trains more female teachers, and partners with communities to challenge regressive norms.
Equally pressing is the crisis in maternal and reproductive healthcare. Pakistan’s maternal mortality rate stands at 186 deaths per 100,000 live births, far worse than in comparable countries. Inadequate access to healthcare facilities, low contraceptive use, and the absence of trained health professionals leave millions of women at risk. The Lady Health Workers program, with over 100,000 field staff, has contributed significantly to improving rural healthcare access, but it needs to be scaled and modernized. The government must invest in healthcare infrastructure, expand family planning services, and embed women’s health within national policy frameworks to reduce maternal deaths and empower women to make informed reproductive choices.
Gender-based violence remains another persistent barrier. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 1,000 women are killed every year in Pakistan under the guise of "honour." Laws like the Protection of Women Against Violence Act and the Anti-Honour Killing Act exist, but are weakly enforced. Legal loopholes and cultural taboos frequently shield perpetrators from justice. While initiatives like the Punjab Women Protection Authority offer shelters and legal support, they remain few and underfunded. The state must establish gender-sensitive policing units, fast-track courts, and legal aid systems that ensure victims receive timely protection and justice. As Asma Jahangir rightly noted, laws are meaningless unless society and the state implement them in good faith.
Political inclusion also demands urgent attention. Although reserved seats have ensured that women occupy around 17% of the National Assembly, their presence in directly elected positions remains negligible. Harassment, threats, and socio-political hostility discourage women from contesting general seats. The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has led important reforms in the past, including workplace harassment laws, but systemic barriers remain. Pakistan must move beyond token representation and invest in mentorship programs, enforce gender quotas in party tickets, and ensure campaign financing support for women candidates.
In the realm of employment, the gender wage gap is both a cause and a consequence of inequality. Women in Pakistan earn up to 50% less than their male counterparts for the same work. This wage gap reflects discriminatory hiring practices, lack of promotion opportunities, and occupational segregation. Organizations like the Aurat Foundation have advocated for gender wage parity through awareness campaigns and legal literacy workshops. Lessons can be drawn from countries like Iceland, which legislated mandatory pay audits and penalized companies for non-compliance. Pakistan should adopt similar mechanisms, implement pay transparency laws, and encourage companies to publish gender-disaggregated salary data. Equal pay is not merely an issue of justice; it is necessary for national productivity and inclusive growth.
Another overlooked area is the integration of women into the formal economy. With only 22% of Pakistani women participating in the labour force, most in the informal sector, economic inclusion remains severely limited. Microfinance institutions such as the Kashf Foundation and First Women Bank have shown how access to finance can transform women into entrepreneurs. Programs like HBL Nisa have worked to increase women’s banking access, but broader policies are required to connect women to markets, skills, and supply chains. Bangladesh provides a model where 80% of the garment workforce is female, contributing significantly to national exports. Pakistan should replicate such examples by investing in vocational training, subsidizing women-owned businesses, and mandating diversity in public procurement processes.
Critically, none of these strategies can succeed in isolation. Legislative reform, while important, must be complemented by shifts in social norms, institutional accountability, and public awareness. Gender equality should not be viewed as a women’s issue; it is a national imperative that shapes economic performance, social cohesion, and governance. Moreover, Pakistan’s provincial diversity means that strategies must be localized. What works in Punjab may not work in rural Sindh or the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tailoring policies to local realities while aligning them with global best practices is the only path to meaningful reform.
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The private sector must also rise to the challenge. Companies should adopt gender-responsive corporate social responsibility initiatives, establish leadership development programs for women, and enforce anti-harassment policies in workplaces. Media platforms, too, bear responsibility in reshaping narratives around women’s roles in society, showcasing female leadership, and challenging misogynistic portrayals.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s persistent gender gap is not just a moral failure; it is a structural flaw undermining the nation’s growth potential. As 2030 approaches, the window to achieve SDG 5 is rapidly closing. The strategies outlined, expanding girls’ education, improving maternal health, strengthening legal protections, promoting political representation, narrowing the wage gap, and formalizing women’s economic roles, are not optional. They are urgent and foundational. It is time to move from commitment to execution. Pakistan must no longer ask whether it can afford to invest in women; it must recognize that it cannot afford not to.
