The World Bank has identified low participation of women in Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan as a major obstacle to development.
In a recent report on the potential benefits of women's involvement in the development process, the bank highlighted that two-thirds of college-educated women in Pakistan are not part of the labour force.
According to the report, labour force participation among women aged 15 and above stands at only 25 per cent, with a rise of just eight per cent over the past twenty-five years.
The bank observed that marriage limits employment opportunities for women. Many women withdraw from job-seeking after graduation due to marriage proposals. The report also indicated that only 61 per cent of women in Pakistan receive family support to work outside the home.
It found that women show a stronger desire than men to seek employment, but have fewer opportunities. Low female participation is described as a significant economic challenge across the MENA region, including Pakistan.
The bank projected that the working-age population in the region will grow by 220 million over the next twenty-five years. Increased female participation is viewed as essential to address this shift. The report stated that removing barriers to women's participation in the labour force could raise Pakistan's GDP by up to 30 per cent.
