Women’s economic participation

Women essential to labour force but majority stay within the informal economy due to gender-based discrimination

While Pakistan’s economy continues to sink in the quicksand of poor economic policies and external debt, it would be in our best interest to listen to President Arif Alvi’s call of encouraging female participation in business activities. Indeed, women’s role in the labour force is essential, but gender-based discrimination has forced the majority of women to stay within the informal economy and work at a meagerly low pay scale. Half of the population of Pakistan constitutes women and according to the Global Gender Gap Index Report 2022, Pakistan ranks 145 out of 156 for female economic participation and opportunity. Therefore, it is only sensible to open up space for them in the business sector to reform it and pave a new way forward.

Gender equality can be promoted either by the state through strong policymaking and advocacy, or, the onus should be placed on leading businessmen to minimise the gender gap in pay and employment. Further, encouragement should also be given by the state to female entrepreneurs to initiate start-ups and use innovative ideas in solving persisting problems plaguing the country. Doing this in a practical and systematic manner will not just help strengthen the economy but it will also promote women empowerment. An inclusive economy is a much stronger economy as it helps analyse issues from different perspectives and helps generate novel ideas. There are thousands of educated able women who end up not contributing to society in a significant manner due to prevailing social norms and gender roles. This burden must be removed from their shoulders through awareness campaigns held by female leaders.

Now is the perfect opportunity to push for this as the US has just set aside $200 million for gender equality in Pakistan. These funds must be utilised in a sincere and transparent manner. Officials need to invest in non-traditional programmes in order to put life back into the economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2022.

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