Pakistan Ranks 145th Out of 146 in Global Gender Equality Index

Pakistan is facing a gender equality crisis, ranking 145th out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2024. The only country ranked lower is Sudan. Neighboring countries such as India (129th) and Bangladesh (99th) have made significant progress, but Pakistan remains stuck at the bottom of the list. What’s causing this stagnation, despite Pakistan’s legal framework supporting gender equality? Let’s take a deeper look.

Background: Gender Equality in Pakistan – A Legal and Social Contradiction

On paper, Pakistan has some of the most progressive gender equality laws in South Asia. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights for both men and women, and recent laws such as the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (2011) and the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act (2010) were introduced to protect women’s rights and safety. However, these laws remain largely ineffective due to weak enforcement, resistance from patriarchal structures, and cultural norms that undermine them.

In rural areas, honor killings and child marriages persist despite being banned by law. Even in urban centers, domestic violence remains rampant as the Domestic Violence Protection Bill, passed years ago, still faces challenges in implementation. Women continue to suffer in silence, too often intimidated by social stigma and the fear of retaliation for reporting abuse. Legal protection exists, but the disconnect between laws and their execution remains one of Pakistan’s most significant barriers to gender equality.

Economic Gender Gap: Pakistan’s Workforce and Wage Disparity

Pakistan’s gender gap is most evident in the economic sector, where women face severe obstacles to employment. Only 36% of women participate in the workforce, compared to 80% of men. Even more troubling is the gender wage gap – women earn 18% less than men for the same work. This is particularly evident in sectors such as agriculture, where 68% of women work, but 76% of them are unpaid—compared to only 24% of men working without pay.

In urban areas, women still face discrimination in access to jobs and leadership roles. Corporate Pakistan remains male-dominated, with only 0.14% of women occupying managerial positions compared to 2.33% of men. This stark imbalance reflects systemic gender bias in the workplace, which continues to marginalize women and restrict their economic opportunities.

Contradictions in Law vs. Reality: Legal Framework But No Action

Pakistan’s legal framework presents a stark contradiction. The country boasts some of the most progressive gender equality laws in South Asia. The Constitution guarantees equal rights to both men and women, and recent legislation like the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act (2011) and the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act (2010) were designed to ensure women’s rights and safety.

However, the reality is that these laws remain largely ineffective due to weak enforcement and resistance from deeply ingrained patriarchal structures. For instance, while child marriage and honor killings are legally prohibited, they continue to occur, especially in rural areas where societal pressure often trumps the legal system. The Domestic Violence Protection Bill, though passed, still faces enormous challenges in implementation. Women continue to suffer in silence due to the overwhelming social stigma attached to reporting abuse.

Despite the existence of these legal protections, the disconnect between laws and their execution remains one of the most significant obstacles to gender equality in Pakistan.

Transgender Rights: A Stark Contradiction

Despite Pakistan’s poor standing in gender equality, the country is paradoxically seen as a leader in transgender rights in the South Asian region. In 2018, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to pass a law recognizing the legal identity of transgender individuals. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act allows individuals to self-identify their gender and ensures legal recognition, access to health services, and protection against discrimination.

However, the legal recognition of transgender rights stands in stark contrast to the ongoing gender disparities faced by both women and transgender people in Pakistan. While the law grants transgender people rights, societal attitudes, stigma, and a lack of infrastructure still present significant barriers. The transgender community faces high levels of discrimination, social exclusion, and violence, making the law more of a symbolic gesture than a practical solution.

This contradiction highlights the broader issue in Pakistan: while progressive laws exist, social norms and entrenched gender biases continue to hinder progress in both the treatment of women and transgender individuals.

Forced Conversions in Pakistan

One of the most alarming human rights violations in Pakistan is the forced conversion of religious minority women, especially Christian and Hindu girls. Every year, hundreds of underage girls—some as young as 12—are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to older Muslim men.

Despite outcry from human rights groups, these cases are often dismissed by courts, with judges accepting dubious claims that the conversions were “voluntary.” The failure of the legal system to intervene reflects:

State inaction in protecting minority women.
Religious extremism overriding fundamental rights.
Judicial bias that prioritizes religious sentiment over justice.

Without strict legal action against forced conversions, Pakistan continues to fail its most vulnerable women and girls.

The Misuse of Blasphemy Laws Against Women

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are among the harshest in the world, often leading to mob violence, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Women, especially those from minority communities, are particularly vulnerable to false blasphemy accusations, which are often used as a tool of oppression.

How Blasphemy Laws Persecute Women

Weaponization Against Minorities – Many cases involve Christian and Hindu women who are falsely accused by those seeking to settle personal scores or seize property.
Lack of Legal Protection – Once accused, even if innocent, women face death threats and often have no legal recourse.
Impact on Free Speech – Women in public and professional spaces fear speaking out, knowing that any disagreement could be framed as blasphemy.

The failure to prevent misuse of these laws highlights Pakistan’s reluctance to reform a system that fuels gender-based and religious oppression.

The Role of Social Norms and Male Behavior

Cultural norms and male behavior are at the core of the gender inequality issue in Pakistan. Traditional views about women’s roles—both in the home and the workplace—continue to reinforce the idea that men are the breadwinners and decision-makers, while women are relegated to the domestic sphere. This rigid division of labor restricts women’s access to economic opportunities and stifles their aspirations.

In many rural areas, early marriages and lack of educational opportunities deny girls the chance to contribute meaningfully to society. Even in urban centers, women are often pressured to prioritize family and domestic duties over careers, which limits their access to leadership roles and high-income positions. Men, meanwhile, often hold leadership positions in business and politics by default, perpetuating the belief that they are the natural leaders.

Women, on the other hand, often have to prove their worth in male-dominated spaces, a battle that too often results in failure or being sidelined. In managerial positions, women make up only 0.14% of the workforce compared to 2.33% of men, highlighting the gender bias that continues to pervade Pakistan’s workplaces.

What Needs to Be Done: Key Steps for Change

To address Pakistan’s gender equality crisis, several key changes are necessary:

Invest in Women’s Education: Ensuring access to education for girls is critical to breaking the cycle of inequality. When women are educated, they have the tools to challenge traditional gender roles and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
Enforce Gender Equality Laws: Strengthening law enforcement is essential. Pakistan’s government needs to prioritize the implementation of gender equality laws, ensuring that perpetrators of domestic violence and child marriage are held accountable.
Encourage Corporate Inclusivity: Companies must adopt policies that encourage diversity, inclusion, and equal pay for equal work. Gender-sensitive leadership programs should be introduced to help empower women to rise to leadership roles within organizations.
Change Cultural Norms: Addressing deeply ingrained cultural attitudes about gender roles is crucial. Public awareness campaigns that challenge stereotypes, promote shared responsibilities, and encourage gender equity are essential in reshaping societal views.
Men as Allies: Men must be engaged in the conversation about gender equality. Educating boys and men about mutual respect, shared responsibilities, and gender equity is crucial for creating lasting societal change.

Conclusion: Can Pakistan Afford to Ignore Gender Equality?

The gender inequality crisis in Pakistan is not just a moral issue; it is an economic and national imperative. With over 40 million women excluded from the workforce, Pakistan is missing out on a huge economic resource. The Global Gender Gap Report 2024 illustrates that Pakistan’s lack of gender equality is holding the country back from achieving its full potential.

It’s clear that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore gender equality. By improving the implementation of gender laws, changing cultural attitudes, and creating a more inclusive society, Pakistan can unlock a prosperous future for everyone. This is not just about fairness—this is about ensuring a brighter, more equitable future for Pakistan and its people.

Read the WEF Gender GAP Report 2024

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