Pakistan falls significantly below global standards in terms of women’s economic rights and participation, as highlighted in a recent report. The country’s legal framework score of 46.68, well below the global average of 67, points to challenges in enforcing existing legal protections. Particularly concerning is Pakistan’s enforcement perceptions score of 27.35, almost half the global average of 53, raising doubts about the effective implementation of laws safeguarding women’s economic rights.
Many nations have introduced gender-equal laws, but the report underscores the inadequacy of enforcement mechanisms and institutional support systems, hindering women’s economic participation. Pakistan’s supportive frameworks score of 50.68 suggests some institutional backing but reveals ongoing struggles in translating policy measures into tangible outcomes.
With women’s labor force participation in Pakistan hovering around 22%, among the lowest globally, structural barriers persist, limiting economic mobility. Issues like workplace equality, access to credit, inheritance rights, mobility constraints, and insufficient childcare support contribute to this low participation rate. Furthermore, women in Pakistan are predominantly found in informal sectors like agriculture and unpaid family work, with limited engagement in formal sectors, according to the report.
The report also notes Pakistan’s exclusion from the list of economies implementing significant gender-related legal reforms between 2023 and 2025. It emphasizes that curbing women’s economic activity not only impacts social equity but also hampers productivity, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic growth. Despite existing legal commitments, substantial gaps persist between policy frameworks and the real experiences of women in Pakistan.
