ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s standing on gender equality is critically poor, ranking 145th out of 146 nations in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2024—only ahead of Sudan.
Women, who represent nearly half of the country’s population, face substantial hurdles in the job market, with just 23% participating in economic activities. More than 40 million women are barred from the labor force, and among those who do work, significant wage disparities exist. The World Bank indicates that women earn 18% less than their male colleagues, with women receiving only Rs818 for every Rs1,000 earned by men for comparable roles.
The situation is even more dire in the agricultural sector, where 68% of working women are employed, yet an astonishing 76% of them do not receive any payment, compared to just 24% of men.
There is also a pronounced gender imbalance in leadership roles, with only 0.14% of women in management positions, whereas men hold 2.33% of these roles. Educational disparities further complicate matters, marked by low literacy rates and restricted educational opportunities for girls.
The WEF report highlights the urgent need for reforms to improve women’s access to economic opportunities and leadership roles, emphasizing that achieving gender equality is crucial for the future progress of Pakistan.
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