Women’s Economic Empowerment in Pakistan: Breaking Barriers for Inclusive Growth

Pakistan faces significant gender disparities in wage employment, entrepreneurship, and access to productive assets, with an estimated 47 million women outside the labor force and around 55 million unbanked, reveals a recent World Bank report.

Titled “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Pakistan: An Evidence Guided Toolkit for More Inclusive Policies,” the report outlines the country’s economic, human capital, political, and climate challenges, emphasizing the indispensable role women must play to drive inclusive growth and enhance national competitiveness.

Currently, the gender earnings gap stands at 18%, meaning women earn Rs818 for every Rs1,000 earned by men—an improvement from nearly 40% two decades ago, thanks to rising women’s wages and falling men’s earnings. Despite this progress, Pakistani women still face multiple barriers: entering the workforce, securing fair pay, accessing markets and financial services, owning land and property, and exercising agency, all intensified by social norms and gender-based violence.

The report stresses that improving gender equality is critical to reversing Pakistan’s stagnating per capita income, worsening human capital crisis, and rising poverty. It also points out that women’s legal rights lag behind regional peers, restricting their economic and social autonomy.

Safety concerns, mobility limits, and cultural restrictions further hinder women’s economic participation. Drawing on 20 years of national and regional data, the World Bank provides a detailed analysis of trends in women’s work and empowerment.

Importantly, the report proposes an evidence-based policy toolkit focused on targeted, data-driven solutions designed specifically for women’s needs, moving beyond generic approaches to promote real, sustainable economic inclusion and empowerment.