Low female representation

Women's representation in government jobs remains concerningly low, with the federation and provinces regularly failing to even fill quota jobs. What makes this even more surprising is that government jobs usually come with reasonable pay, good perks and high job security, making them desirable for almost anyone, while the higher level of access to ombudspersons can also make government offices safer for female employees.

But the bureaucracy remains an overwhelmingly male fortress, shutting out the talents, perspectives and contributions of half the nation's population. Federal data from 2023 says only 5% of the federal workforce was women, despite a public push to recruit more women. The situation in the provinces is no better. Even in Sindh, where quotas have risen significantly, hiring and retention are so low that the increased quota is at best meaningless, and at worst, a cruel joke.

Pledges and policies must translate into meaningful change. If the mechanisms for implementation of any law — not just hiring quotas — are grievously lacking, the system will be doomed to fail. But this failure is also multifaceted, rooted in deep-seated cultural biases, concerns over workplace safety and harassment, inadequate childcare support, and often, sheer institutional inertia in recruitment and promotion practices.

The absence of women in the workforce is not just a loss for working-age women or their families, but society as a whole. From healthcare and education to economic planning and climate policy, the absence of women's voices in decision-making leads to policies that are less nuanced, less equitable, and less effective. Governments at all levels must make concerted efforts not only to meet their quotas, but also to encourage women to pursue careers in open hiring positions, because continuing to exclude half the population is a recipe for failure.