According to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, “when women do better, economies do better.” While trite, this sentiment is reflected globally, with developed countries boasting higher levels of women’s participation in the workforce as compared to their male counterparts.
Historically relegated to homemakers, especially in patriarchal societies, women are increasingly entering the workforce and gaining financial independence. Unfortunately, Pakistan lags behind the global zeitgeist, with the World Bank estimating that roughly 25-27% of Pakistani women work, far fewer than the global median of 50%. The country even lags behind regional neighbors such as Bangladesh (42.68%) and Nepal (28.7%), which have similar cultural norms. Of the Pakistani women who are employed, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics states that 60-70% are employed in the informal sector, suggesting nearly two-thirds of employed Pakistani women lack any job security or benefits, such as healthcare, paid leave, and fair wages. This is especially troubling for an economically struggling country like Pakistan, as experts maintain that increasing women’s participation in the workforce can boost a country’s GDP by an estimated 10-25%.
Correcting this injustice requires recognizing the barriers facing women wishing to enter Pakistan’s labor market. Chief among these is cultural norms, with a majority of Pakistanis still regarding the home as the domain of women, with it being deemed a “duty” of men to serve as sole providers for the family. This view is reflected in how women are perceived within a family unit, with poorer families preferring to educate sons over daughters, who are encouraged to prioritize household chores. This has left roughly 41% of Pakistani women functionally illiterate, according to UNICEF, which has also pointed to underage marriages as denying women the ability to join the workforce. Per the global body, 21% of married women in Pakistan between the ages of 20-24 wed before turning 18, further hampering their ability to join the workforce and denying them financial freedom.
Even within educated women, entering the Pakistani workforce is a struggle, with the International Labor Organization estimating that, on average, they earn 30% less than men for the same job. Their absence from the workforce further denies them chances of representation in higher positions of authority, facilitating a vicious cycle of male-led organizations that then prefer to hire more men in leadership roles. Working mothers face even more hurdles, with Pakistan offering 12 weeks of maternity leave compared to the global average of 14. In the informal sector, this can be even lower or nonexistent, leaving many women forced to return to work before their bodies are ready to do so. Due to its male domination, Pakistani employers have also lagged in providing adequate childcare facilities, with many women forced to leave their employment after becoming mothers as they are denied the resources necessary to fulfill their parental responsibilities alongside their official duties.
For women willing to overcome all these issues, personal safety remains a major concern. According to a survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 40% of Pakistani women have reported some form of persecution within the workplace, ranging from sexual harassment to blatant gender discrimination. Despite recent attempts to legislate remedies, cultural norms continue to hamper any significant improvements, with women forced to either put up with their abuse or risk unfair dismissals with little recourse for justice.
Melinda Gates, cofounder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has stressed that economies thrive and communities benefit when women are allowed to achieve their full potential. Equality is the sine qua non of social development, particularly pressing concern for Pakistan, which cannot hope to improve its human capital so long as it ignores the potential of nearly half its population. Undoubtedly, enabling Pakistani women to enter and contribute to the workforce would require significant societal changes and a potential paradigm shift that ensures safe working environments and positive work-life balances. But without breaking down these barriers, and enabling every citizen regardless of gender to realize their fullest potential, the country cannot hope to achieve the prosperous future promised by its founder.