Pakistan faces a significant challenge with high maternal mortality rates and limited access to family planning services, early marriages, and gender-based violence. These factors impact fertility rates, women’s participation in the labor force, and overall human capital development. The country’s population, exceeding 255 million, ranks it as the fifth most populous globally, prompting concerns for effective policy responses.
Efforts to address these issues are hindered by weak governance and accountability in policy implementation. The National Finance Commission award, primarily tied to population size, fails to incentivize improvements in crucial areas like health, education, and gender equality. Moving forward, there is a call for a shift towards rewarding progress in key indicators such as maternal health, female workforce participation, education quality, and climate resilience.
Challenges in Pakistan’s labor market and economic opportunities for women are rooted in cultural norms, institutional deficiencies, and structural barriers. Addressing these disparities necessitates comprehensive actions like enhancing labor law enforcement, ensuring access to childcare and safe transportation, promoting digital and financial inclusion, and combating discriminatory practices limiting women’s autonomy. Without targeted interventions, these gender gaps risk perpetuating cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, hindering the country’s economic growth potential.
