Pakistan cannot hope to grow when half its workforce is excluded, and when the most
marginalized women remain invisible in our numbers. Gender-responsive and disability-inclusive
Budgeting, grounded in accurate data, is not optional. It is the key to unlocking resilience,
dignity, and shared prosperity. Expanding women’s participation in the workforce is not a luxury;
It is Pakistan’s most direct path to sustainable growth. The economy is faltering, yet the key to
revival, women’s participation, remains ignored. Just 24% of women in Pakistan participate in
the labor force, a glaring contrast to the 80% participation rate among men (FLFP World Bank
2024). This means only 1 in 4 Pakistani women works, compared with more than 4 out of 5
men.
This isn’t just a gap; it is one of the widest in South Asia, and the cost is staggering. Each year,
Pakistan loses billions in potential GDP because half of its people are sidelined. Globally,
studies show that narrowing gender gaps in the workforce can increase GDP by 20 to 30%.
Imagine the transformation if Pakistan even moved women’s participation halfway closer to
Men’s household incomes would rise, poverty would fall, and the economy would find New Energy.