akistan is the 5^th most populated country in the world with a population of more than 240 million. 64 percent of the population is under 30 years of age, half of which are women. It is estimated that 29 percent of the population falls in the 15 to 29 age bracket, with 50 percent being female. In 2022, Pakistan’s unemployment rate was 6.4 percent. According to estimates, it has climbed to more than 7 percent because of the impact of floods in 2022 and the economic crisis. The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population is known as the NEET rate. According to Gallup Pakistan, the NEET rate of Pakistan is 37 percent. This means more than 22 million youth aged 15-29 are neither studying nor in employment.

The lack of opportunities is directly linked with unemployment and the NEET rate. Most of the available jobs are either in the informal sector or low-paying jobs in the service industry. The formal sector, which includes industries such as manufacturing and technology, has limited job opportunities. It is crucial to emphasise that this is the result of ineffective economic policies; for example, inefficient capital tax policies promoted investment and provided protection for the real estate sector. Moving resources away from investments in other, more productive industries could have created new jobs while also making a more significant contribution to national economy.

The economic crisis, inflation, a lack of decent jobs and low earnings have all contributed to Pakistan’s young people’s discontent. Many believe that migration is the only way for them. An increase in migration has been observed. 832,229 Pakistanis left the country in 2022, according to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment. This includes 750,000 young people. In a survey conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), 62 percent of young Pakistanis between the ages of 15 and 24 wish to leave the country. It is not a positive sign when young people migrate. It means that the talent, potential and manpower, which could have made a substantial contribution, risk being lost.

In Pakistan, more than 60 percent of population lives in the rural areas. It is estimated that half of the country’s female population (60 million) lives in rural areas. Due to the persistent gender disparity, it is vital to focus on measures for economic empowerment of young women. Pakistan ranks at the bottom of both regional and global ranking tables of World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2023. In the main global gender gap index, Pakistan is ranked 142 out of 146 countries. Pakistan ranks 143 out of 146 in the subindex of economic participation and opportunity. Pakistan’s female labour force participation rate of 21 percent is rather low when compared to other countries in comparable economic situations. According to the Vision 2025 document, Pakistan has one of the lowest rates of female labour force participation in the world, ranking 144.

It is estimated that around 8 million women in Pakistan are home based informal workers. The ratio of informal women workers in rural areas is higher as compared to urban areas.

Women in rural areas produce a vast range of products that have a high demand and are well known both in domestic and global markets. This includes making embroidered apparel, craft production, stitching footballs, shoes, bangle making and carpet weaving. These women do not earn a fair price for their abilities and work since they do not have direct access to the market. The middleman reaps big profits; and the middleman is frequently dealt with on behalf of the women by male family members. This increases frustration and demotivation amongst young women. This problem can be addressed by the use of information technology and digitalisation, to enhance rural women’s economic activity.

There is an opportunity to enable the women involved in home based entrepreneurial work, to use digital equipment and tools to have better access to market. Women can have their own digital bank accounts and can be trained to use online banking tools, so that they can receive the funds without the need for a middleman. This access to digital technologies and banking services will open new doors of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Therefore, efforts should be made to strengthen the skills of rural young women to use digital technologies and e-banking services. This can be initiated through public-private partnerships and may result in an increase in female entrepreneurs and leaders. This will empower women, strengthen their skills, reduce poverty and improve their lives and families.

Agriculture is the largest source of export revenue for Pakistan, contributing 23 percent to the nation’s GDP. Over 40 percent of Pakistan’s labour force, including a majority of working women, works in agriculture. Rural families typically depend on agriculture, which is usually their main source of income. But increasingly, natural disasters have been a concern. The agriculture industry in Pakistan has been significantly impacted by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts, which have severely damaged crops, animals, infrastructure and the lives of farmers. Farmers and families are either out of job or have experienced significant losses because of the effects of climate change. The effects of climate change will continue to impact farmers, particularly women farmers and others involved in agriculture.

Modernising of agriculture is urgently needed. Using technology to strengthen and equip farmers, particularly young women, will revolutionise Pakistan’s agriculture. Farmers may increase resilience and decrease vulnerability by using modern information technology tools to make decisions regarding crop selection, planting times and water management. Farmers and the labour force engaged in agricultural activities, including women, should be empowered by enhancing their technological skills and providing them with the required tools, either with government assistance or through public-private partnerships.

The author is a communications specialist and a writer. He is based in Rawalpindi and can be reached at qureshiwaqas@gmail.com. He tweets @qureshiwaqasA