The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has pointed out that Pakistan rank 145th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index, second only to Afghanistan, as the country continues to face significant challenges in achieving gender equality. The women’s economic participation can promote agricultural productivity, enterprise development at the micro, small and medium enterprise levels, as well as enhances business management and returns on investment.
This was stated by FPCCI former president and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar, while talking to a reception hosted by the Businessmen Panel’s Women Wing to mark the International Women Day here on Sunday. He emphasized the need for separate representation and appropriate quotas for businesswomen in every sector. He stated that women should be given 30 to 40 percent representation in business institutions so that they can demonstrate their abilities in all fields of life.
Speaking to the event, celebrating the historic success of the BMP Women Wing, the Businessmen Panel chairman highlighted that the constitution guarantees the protection of women’s rights, but these laws are not fully implemented. Both the government and the private sector need to play their role in providing opportunities for the development of women.
Mian Anjum Nisar stressed the importance of skill development for women to succeed in practical life. He said that national progress is not possible without integrating women into the mainstream. One of the major barriers to the development of women is the lack of access to loans from banks, which must be addressed.
Other participants of the meeting who spoke at the event echoed the need for the private sector to join hands with the government in creating a conducive environment and providing equal opportunities for businesswomen.
Like many Asian countries, Pakistani women form a major part of the labor, as they play a catalytic role in the achievement of transformational economic, environmental, and social changes essential for sustainable development.
Historically, women have played a vital role in many developing economies, struggling to build a pathway out of poverty for themselves and the surrounding communities. In Pakistan, they have been a major driver of Pakistan’s economy.
Participants of the meeting said that Pakistan needs more of these initiatives that allow women to gain more control over their resources and have greater decision-making power in the households. Enterprising interventions such as these ensure inclusive growth and profitability, allow for income-generating activities that are sustainable, and strengthen women’s overall bargaining power in the household – in terms of land and property rights, financial security, access to markets and assets, and profits.
A large proportion of production attributable to women makes them key agents of economic development and essential to making Pakistan economically strong.
The productivity and economic empowerment of women should therefore be a logical priority of corporate programs and national policies of Pakistan. The priority is warranted both in terms of the importance of women’s contribution to economic growth and as a source of livelihood and poverty reduction.
These initiatives represent new opportunities that should address gender disparity because poverty is deeply rooted in the imbalance between what women do and what they have. It provides a deeper insight into the role and contribution that marginalized women can play to improve their position within the household and society at large. Creating such inclusive settings in Pakistan is important and necessary as the country is already struggling economically.
This will be done through several government initiatives which will find new ways for women to help grow the economy. Women’s equality is a priority for this government, which is why it has committed to close the gender pay gap once and for all. Not only is it vital to create the incentives for more women to continue entering the labor force, it will help drive further economic growth to help build the foundations of a stronger economy.
To break down barriers for women at work, the government has been claiming to deliver more choices for families, with further rollouts of free childcare, new school-based nurseries, and wraparound care in free breakfast clubs at primary schools. Through its landmark women protection bills, it is taking steps towards requiring employers to publish gender pay gap and menopause action plans. The bill will also improve equality for women in the workplace, by introducing more robust measures to safeguard working people, including protections from sexual harassment, and enhanced rights for pregnant workers.
It is to be noted that Prime Minister recently reaffirmed his commitment to gender equality, stressing that women’s empowerment could only be achieved through equal access to education, skill development and employment opportunities.
“It’s our mission and an unwavering commitment to ensure emancipation of the country’s female population,” he said while addressing an event in Islamabad marking International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for their rights.
During the event, PM Shehbaz launched Islamabad’s first-ever Gender Parity Report, prepared by the NCSW and UNFPA. The report identifies challenges and solutions in key areas such as education, health, governance, political representation and justice.
The prime minister pledged collaboration with provinces to enh­ance women’s participation in economic programs and announced the establishment of a Working Women’s Endowment Fund to support women in overcoming contemporary workplace challenges.

The COW News