The World Bank has warned that the low participation of women in Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan is a major obstacle to economic development. In its latest report, the bank highlighted that despite increasing education levels, women continue to face barriers that prevent them from joining the workforce.
According to the findings, two-thirds of college-educated women in Pakistan are not part of the labour force. Overall, only 25 per cent of women aged 15 and above are working, showing an increase of just eight per cent in the past twenty-five years. The report said that marriage plays a key role in limiting opportunities, as many women step back from job-seeking after graduation due to marriage proposals.
It was also revealed that only 61 per cent of women in Pakistan receive family support to work outside their homes, even though more women than men express a desire to find employment. The World Bank described this gap as a serious economic challenge not just for Pakistan but across the wider MENA region.
The report further projected that the working-age population in the region will grow by 220 million in the next twenty-five years. To meet this challenge, women’s participation in the labour market must increase. According to estimates, removing barriers to female employment could boost Pakistan’s GDP by up to 30 per cent, creating long-term economic stability and growth.
