Gender gap needs urgent action

September 18, 2026

We have made some progress in reducing the gender gap, but the country still remains near the bottom of the global ranking. The latest Global Gender Gap Index 2026 of the World Economic Forum places Pakistan 143rd among 145 economies. This should be a matter of serious concern. The country closed 59.5 per cent of its overall gender gap, compared with 56.7 per cent in 2025. The improvement is encouraging, but the overall position shows that much more needs to be done. Progress in one area cannot hide the large gaps that remain in the lives of Pakistani women.

Education is the clearest example of progress. The educational attainment score has risen to 91.7 per cent. The country has also ranked first globally for female enrolment in tertiary education. This shows that Pakistani girls and women are increasingly gaining access to education. However, education must lead to economic opportunity. This is where the government continues to face a major problem. The country scored only 36.4 per cent in economic participation and opportunity and ranked 144th globally in this area. Women’s labour-force participation remains particularly low.

Women also remain underrepresented in senior positions. Only 6.5 per cent of legislators, senior officials and managers are women. This means that even educated women often face barriers when they seek jobs, promotions and leadership positions. Political representation has improved somewhat, but it also remains limited. Pakistan’s political empowerment score rose to 14.1 per cent. Greater participation of women in political and decision-making institutions is necessary if their concerns are to receive stronger attention.

The figures also show that the country has performed relatively well in health and survival, with a score of 95.9 per cent. But progress in health and education should be matched by progress in employment, income and leadership. The government, businesses and educational institutions must work together to remove barriers facing women. Better access to jobs, equal opportunities, safe workplaces, skills training and greater representation in leadership can help turn educational gains into economic gains. The country has shown that progress is possible. The challenge now is to ensure that girls who enter schools and universities can also enter the workforce, earn independently and participate fully in national life. The latest ranking should therefore not be seen simply as a statistic.