Tackling the Feminization of Poverty in Pakistan

A Story That Reflects a Broader Reality

When the floods swept through rural Sindh in 2022, Asata Bibi, a mother of two, lost everything. Not only her home, but her small tuck shop that had been her family's primary source of income for years, was gone overnight. With two children to care for, one living with a disability and the other dreaming of higher education, Asata faced a daunting reality.

Her story is not unique. Across Pakistan, millions of women like Asata Bibi face the daily struggle of poverty. Not just because of a lack of income, but because of a system that restricts their choices, silences voices, and stifles their potential.

The Gendered Face of Poverty

Poverty is not just economic - it's deeply political and social. It reflects who has power, who doesn't, and who is systemically excluded. In Pakistan, social norms, discriminatory laws, and entrenched patriarchal practices combine to keep women disproportionately poor. Despite decades of policy efforts, today's challenges - climate change, rising inflation, displacement, and conflict - hit women hardest.

While approximately 45% of Pakistan's population lives below the poverty line, gender-disaggregated data suggests that over 75% of the poor are women and girls. Pakistan also ranks last among 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index, underscoring the persistent inequalities in education, health, political representation, and economic opportunities.

From early marriage to restricted mobility, from unpaid care burdens to limited inheritance rights, these systemic barriers deny women the tools to build capabilities, earn income, and live with dignity.

Hidden and Undervalued Work

Pakistan has made some progress in increasing women's labor force participation, rising from 14 percent in 1991 to 24 percent in 2023. However, this rate remains far below regional peers like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (38 percent), Maldives (43 percent), and Bhutan (62 percent).

Most working women in Pakistan are concentrated in the informal sector, where jobs are typically undocumented, poorly regulated, and often exploitative. Around 78 percent of female workers are in this sector, with 73 percent employed in agriculture.

Others work in manufacturing and social services, including home-based labor for larger industries. These roles are usually non-contractual, offer little job security, and pay below the minimum wage. The reality is stark: over 70 percent of these low-wage earners are women, reinforcing cycles of economic vulnerability and underscoring the structural barriers they face in accessing fair pay, labor protections, and sustainable economic mobility.

Climate Disasters and Compounded Vulnerability

Natural disasters, especially those linked to climate change, deepen these gendered inequalities. In the 2022 floods, of the 33 million affected, around 8 million were women. Many were already living in poverty; after the disaster, they were pushed even deeper into it.

With limited mobility, poor access to emergency services, and little control over resources, many women could not recover. More than 9 million people were pushed into poverty by the floods-many of them women and girls.

Pakistan's slow progress on gender-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further illustrates this gap. Out of 100 gender-relevant indicators, only 21 are on track. The country's rank of 164 out of 193 on the Human Development Index signals a profound disconnect between economic progress and the lives of ordinary people-especially women.

A Rights-Based Approach to Poverty Reduction

To truly tackle the feminization of poverty, we must shift from viewing poverty as only a lack of income to understanding it as a denial of basic human rights. A rights-based approach means treating women not as passive beneficiaries, but as active agents of change. It requires protecting their dignity, strengthening their voice, and holding institutions accountable.

This shift also means moving beyond bandage fixes. While social safety nets like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) have made a difference-providing millions of women with cash transfers and educational stipends-these efforts must be accompanied by long-term structural investments. That includes access to quality education, healthcare, childcare, legal protection, financial services, and public transport.

Centering Women in Solutions

If three out of every four poor people in Pakistan are women, they must be at the center of any poverty reduction strategy. That starts with investing in their capabilities and creating real pathways out of poverty.

For example, women who receive BISP stipends could also be supported through vocational training, market linkages, or enterprise development programs that suit their realities. Home-based workers could be protected through formal recognition and fair labor practices.

At the same time, women need to be part of designing and leading these solutions. Policies must strengthen their voice at every level, from village councils to parliament. And systems must be put in place to track results and ensure accountability.

A Call to Action

Women like Asata Bibi are asking for a fair chance to rebuild their lives and provide for their children. Asata Bibi's story is one of resilience, not helplessness. When we invest in women like her, we invest in stronger families, healthier communities, and a more stable and just society.

By placing women at the heart of our policies, budgets, and institutions, we can break the cycle of poverty, not just for individuals, but for entire communities.

Together, we can shape a future where poverty is no longer a woman's burden, but a shared challenge we are all committed to ending, together.