In 2020, female labour force participation in Pakistan was 21 per cent, which is fairly low compared to other countries in similar economic situations. According to the Vision 2025 document, Pakistan ranks amongst the lowest globally, as it falls at 144th in terms of female labour force participation. One of the numerous reasons is that most women are active in agricultural activities and household tasks, and their formal employment participation is relatively low. Furthermore, even if they engage in some form of self-employment or other economic activity, they are largely undocumented and unnoticed due to a variety of reasons, including the middleman’s role.

The Vision 2025 focuses on increasing female labour force participation by providing them with opportunities. Women’s education, urbanisation and digitisation are all major elements that can contribute to a higher female labour force participation rate. Furthermore, developing opportunities for women and establishing a gender-friendly environment in which women may work comfortably is crucial. It is also necessary to enhance the capacities of women, particularly those who are already involved in economic activity.

Governments may offer opportunities for women and strengthen their capacities through public-private partnerships. National and international development organisations can also take initiative and play their role. This can not only assist women in having a decent source of income, but will also help increase female labour force participation rates.

Many women in rural areas are skilled in making embroidered apparel, which is in high demand and well-known across the country. These women, on the other hand, do not get a fair price for their abilities and work since they do not have direct access to the market. The middleman therefore reaps big profits. The middleman is frequently dealt with on behalf of the women by male family members. This makes them more vulnerable, and they are frequently denied the income they deserve. Furthermore, they are generally unrecognised and undocumented as contributors.

Efforts can be made to enable these women to use smart mobile phones to take orders directly and deliver items using courier services that can also be booked through smartphones. There is also a need to provide these women with their own personal bank accounts so that they can receive the funds without the need for a middleman. This access to digital technologies and banking services will spark fresh life into rural women’s economic activity.

Developing opportunities for women and establishing a gender-friendly environment in which women may work comfortably is crucial. It is also necessary to enhance the capacities of women, particularly those who are already involved in economic activity.

Information technology and digitalisation are opening lots of new opportunities for women. With the government’s help, Pakistan may see an increase in female entrepreneurs and leaders in a variety of service industries. This will empower women, reduce poverty and improve their lives and families.

The internet-based food delivery industry is becoming increasingly popular, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. Similarly, online cab companies like Careem, Uber, and In-Driver are gaining traction and bringing up new opportunities. Women in metropolitan regions have many options, yet they are denied them due to various factors. The most significant factor is a lack of driving skills. Even if a woman desires to pursue the career, she may be unable to do so due to many factors including her inability to pay a fee to learn to drive.

The government should launch an intervention through a public-private partnership to assist women in learning to drive, obtaining a driver’s licence and connecting them with the food delivery and cab services.

In cities, the trend of hiring a nanny and babysitters is growing by the day. However, housemaids often serve the purpose due to a lack of professional babysitters. They are frequently scolded by parents and families, causing them to lose their dignity and increasing their vulnerability. They also spend more than eight hours at houses where they work and are frequently paid less than the country’s minimum legal wage.

Training courses can be provided with the support of a professional organisation to empower maids and other interested women with child-care training. A session on the use of job-hunting websites such as LinkedIn and Rozee should be included in the training so that they can be identified by employers and have a good chance of securing a job.

Apart from these, there are several areas where women’s capacities can be developed to include them in economic activities. There is also a pressing need to provide a gender-friendly working environment free of abuse, harassment and discrimination so that women can work with dignity.

The government of Pakistan has launched Hunarmand Pakistan as part of its Kamyab Jawan Programme, which provides free technical and vocational training. There is a need to raise awareness about this, particularly in rural regions, and for courses tailored specifically for women. There may be some women who are interested in the courses but lack the necessary academic qualifications. The admission criteria should be changed where suitable to ensure that the talented potential participants are not overlooked.

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