omen have a crucial role in the development and growth of any economy. In Pakistan, despite the ongoing challenges, women continue to strive for their rights and fight for greater economic empowerment, contributing significantly to the country’s economic progress and future prosperity.

In the Global Gender Pap Index 2024, Pakistan ranked 145th out of 146 countries, representing a decline from its 142nd position in 2023. The labour-force participation rate for women stood at 30.4 percent, ranking 140th globally. Additionally, the country ranked 81st in terms of wage equality and had only 6.1 percent of women in senior roles. These indicators underscore the urgent need for women’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are proving a game-changer for women’s empowerment in Pakistan. The CPEC, a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has significantly enhanced women’s empowerment in Pakistan by offering substantial employment opportunities, providing access to education and skills training and improving their quality of life.

A significant proportion of employed women in Pakistan are unpaid. More than half (55 percent) are contributing family workers compared to only (10 percent) of men. Women are concentrated in sectors like agriculture, household production and informal manufacturing, where their substantial contributions often go unrecognised.

Over the last decade, the CPEC social and economic development projects have empowered many women in Pakistan. These initiatives have provided local women with employment opportunities, vocational training and skill development programmes. This has enabled them to become financially independent and contribute to their family’s well-being. Importantly, these projects have broken down societal barriers, allowing women to pursue careers in non-traditional roles.

CPEC’s renewable energy projects and agricultural initiatives have been instrumental in empowering women by converting unused areas into solar and wind power plants.

The CPEC Green Corridor Initiative is modernising Pakistan’s agriculture sector, which particularly benefits women farmers by equipping them with advanced farming techniques and improved market access. These projects have fostered women’s financial independence, decision-making and socio-economic progress, positioning them as beacons of empowerment in their communities.

The Thar Block-1 Integrated Coal Mine Power Project, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has actively engaged local women as part of its initiative to empower the Thar region, which has a capacity of 1320 MW. The project has trained and employed women from the surrounding areas of Mithi and Islamkot. One such initiative involved hiring 21 local women to work on solar panel cleaning and other solar-related tasks.

The CPEC Thar Coal Block-II Electricity Integration project has empowered local women in more remarkable ways. The project provided an opportunity for uneducated women farmers from the region to break gender stereotypes and join the skilled workforce. After undergoing a six-month training programme, these women were incorporated as professional dump truck drivers for the project.

Through these projects in the desert, the local women contributed to the development of their community.

The Pakistan-China Technical and Vocational Institute in Gwadar, established under the CPEC has empowered underprivileged local women by providing them with vocational training and skill development opportunities. The institute is focused on enhancing the skills of talented women in the area. 

The Pakistan-China Technical and Vocational Institute in Gwadar, established under the CPEC has empowered underprivileged local women by providing them with vocational training and skill development opportunities. The institute is focused on enhancing the skills of talented women in Gwadar who possess basic stitching and sewing abilities but have limited avenues to utilise these skills for financial gain due to the lack of opportunities in the area.

By equipping these women with advanced skills and a platform to showcase their talents, the institute has enabled them to secure substantial earnings and contribute significantly to their families’ financial well-being. This initiative is breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering women at the local level by making them financially independent.

While these projects reflect the growing engagement of women in the CPEC, women in Pakistan still face challenges like discrimination and gender disparity, social or cultural barriers and lack of awareness, in fully participating in and benefiting from these initiatives.

Women often face deep-rooted gender biases and discrimination, limiting their access to education, employment and decision-making roles. Societal expectations and cultural norms can also restrict women’s ability to pursue CPEC-related opportunities, as the burden of domestic responsibilities and lack of family support hinder their participation.

Additionally, many women, especially in rural areas, lack awareness about the opportunities and benefits associated with the CPEC and have limited access to information and resources on skill development programs. Concerns over personal safety and cultural norms that restrict women’s mobility further exacerbate the challenges, as women find it difficult to travel to CPEC project sites or access employment opportunities.

To ensure the sustainability of CPEC’s benefits for women, it is important to address structural barriers such as discriminatory laws, lack of asset access and restrictive gender norms. Prioritising these aspects will significantly advance gender equality.

With right policies and investments, the CPEC can create vast opportunities for women to contribute to and benefit from Pakistan’s economic transformation. Achieving this requires collaboration between the government, private sector, civil society and international partners.

Gender stereotypes need to be broken. Women should have access to relevant education and skills development. Their employment in CPEC projects should extend beyond low-skilled labour positions, offering opportunities in technical and emerging sectors such as digital technology and tourism.

The CPEC should also create opportunities for women entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises related to logistics, food production and e-commerce. Targeted programmes and incentives can encourage and support women to start and grow businesses that benefit from CPEC’s economic boost. This approach will help harness the potential of women entrepreneurs and contribute to more inclusive economic growth under the CPEC.

Women must be included in the decision-making process to ensure their needs and interests are a priority. This includes having women on planning committees and in leadership roles. Establishing a dedicated gender unit for the CPEC can help drive this change.

The CPEC Phase I has been transformative for Pakistan’s economic landscape, laying a solid foundation for cooperation in areas like industrialisation, agriculture and socio-economic development. According to the government, the CPEC has directly created 236,000 jobs, employing over 155,000 Pakistanis.

As Pakistan and China move into CPEC Phase II, the focus on industrial cooperation, agricultural development and trade promotion is expected to further drive women’s empowerment and provide more economic opportunities for women.

The writer is a project associate at China Study Centre at the SDPI. She can be reached at sadiasatti@sdpi.org