Empowering Women for Rural Economic Growth

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a critical driver of inclusive economic development. It ensures that women, men, boys, and girls, regardless of class, caste, or ethnicity, participate equally in decision-making, access resources fairly, and exercise control over their personal and economic choices. In the context of rural Pakistan, where women make up nearly 49% of the population (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2023), gender equality is essential not only for human dignity but also for sustained national progress.

However, women’s economic potential remains vastly underutilized due to persistent structural barriers. These include limited access to quality education and healthcare, lack of land ownership rights, restricted mobility, unpaid care responsibilities, and deep-rooted patriarchal norms that discourage their participation in the formal workforce. Economic growth, which refers to the sustained increase in inflation-adjusted output over time, is closely linked to gender equality, as empowered women contribute to higher household incomes, improved child nutrition, and community resilience.

Globally, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 underscores gender equality as a cross-cutting priority, and the World Bank’s 2023 Women, Business and the Law report shows that over 2.4 billion women are still denied equal legal and economic opportunities. In Pakistan, female labor force participation remains alarmingly low at just 22% (World Bank, 2023), with rural women even more disadvantaged due to cultural constraints and inadequate policy support. Unlocking the economic potential of rural women through access to credit, vocational training, digital inclusion, and legal empowerment can have transformative effects on both individual households and broader economic indicators. When women are enabled to engage in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and local governance, productivity rises, poverty declines, and communities become more resilient. Bridging the gender gap is not only a moral obligation, but also an economic imperative for Pakistan’s sustainable future.

Catalysts for Inclusive Economic Growth

Women in rural Pakistan are the unsung backbone of the economy, particularly in agriculture, which employs over 42.3% of the national workforce (Pakistan Economic Survey 2022–23). They are deeply involved in every stage of the agricultural value chain, from sowing and harvesting crops to managing livestock and processing food, yet their contributions remain largely invisible in formal statistics due to a lack of recognition and compensation. Despite producing up to 60–80% of food in developing countries, rural women in Pakistan own less than 5% of agricultural land, highlighting the persistent gender disparity in resource control (FAO, 2022).

Beyond agriculture, many rural women sustain households through micro-enterprises such as embroidery, dairy production, and traditional crafts. These activities, while economically significant, are often constrained by structural barriers like low financial literacy, social mobility restrictions, and limited access to markets and capital. Only 7% of Pakistani women hold formal bank accounts, severely limiting their ability to scale businesses or invest in productivity-enhancing tools (State Bank of Pakistan, 2023).

However, success stories offer hope. Programs like the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) have demonstrated that direct financial support can enhance household resilience and women’s autonomy. Similarly, the Punjab Economic Opportunities Program (PEOP) has trained over 100,000 rural women in vocational and technical skills, increasing their employability and income prospects. The Lady Health Worker (LHW) Program is another powerful example, enabling women to gain healthcare training and employment while uplifting community well-being.

These initiatives prove that with targeted interventions, rural women can become agents of economic transformation. Unlocking their full potential requires policy measures focused on land rights, access to finance, market integration, and skill development. Empowering rural women is not just a matter of equity, it is a strategic imperative for Pakistan’s inclusive and sustainable economic future.

Harnessing the Economic Power of Gender Equality in Rural Pakistan

Promoting gender equality in rural Pakistan is not only a matter of social justice, it is also a smart economic strategy. Numerous studies underscore the vast economic potential that lies in empowering rural women, particularly in agriculture and microenterprise. When women have equal access to land, inputs, and training, agricultural productivity can increase dramatically. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2023) estimates that closing the gender gap in agriculture could raise crop yields by 20% to 30%, directly contributing to improved food security and national economic growth.

Furthermore, rural women are more likely than men to reinvest their earnings into household welfare, including health, education, and nutrition. According to the World Bank (2023), women typically reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families. Programs such as the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) illustrate this multiplier effect: by providing targeted cash transfers to women, BISP has helped lift over 8 million households out of poverty, improving resilience and financial stability in some of the most vulnerable communities. Beyond economic gains, empowered women often become champions of innovation and sustainability. Studies show that women are more likely to adopt climate-resilient farming practices, such as using drought-resistant seed varieties and organic fertilizers, key strategies for mitigating climate change impacts. Additionally, gender equality yields powerful intergenerational benefits.

Educated and economically active women are more likely to raise healthier children, reduce infant mortality, and support higher school enrollment and retention rates, especially for girls. These social outcomes further feed into the cycle of development and poverty reduction. By investing in women through inclusive policies, capacity building, and equitable access to resources, Pakistan can unlock immense economic potential. Gender equality is not just a goal, it is a driver of sustainable, inclusive growth for the nation.

Overcoming Barriers to Gender Equality in Rural Pakistan

Despite playing a central role in Pakistan’s rural economy, women continue to face entrenched barriers that limit their potential and reinforce cycles of poverty. One of the most significant challenges is limited access to education. Only 46% of rural girls are enrolled in secondary school (UNESCO, 2023), with cultural norms often prioritizing boys’ education. As a result, early marriages and school dropout rates remain high among girls, curtailing their opportunities for economic participation. Without education, rural women are less likely to access formal employment or entrepreneurial training.

Another major barrier is the lack of landownership and financial autonomy. Women own less than 4% of agricultural land in Pakistan (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2023), and discriminatory inheritance practices often prevent them from acquiring property. Moreover, banking systems are not always inclusive, women are less likely to meet collateral requirements or access loans, restricting their ability to invest in agriculture or businesses.

Cultural and social constraints further hinder women’s mobility and agency. Norms such as purdah limit their participation in public life and the workforce, while domestic responsibilities consume up to 5–6 hours a day, reducing time for income-generating activities. Poor rural infrastructure exacerbates these challenges. With only 36% of rural women having access to maternal healthcare (WHO, 2023) and inadequate transportation and water services, their burden of unpaid labor remains high.

Addressing these barriers requires integrated policy action. Expanding girls’ education through rural schools with female teachers and scholarships can create pathways to empowerment. Enforcing women’s land rights, promoting financial inclusion through microfinance and digital banking, and investing in healthcare, transportation, and clean energy infrastructure are essential. Supporting women-led cooperatives and vocational training will further amplify rural women’s contributions, unlocking the transformative power of gender equality in Pakistan’s development.

Conclusion

Gender equality is not only a matter of justice and human rights, but also a transformative force for rural economic development in Pakistan. The evidence is overwhelming: when rural women are educated, economically empowered, and granted equitable access to land, finance, and decision-making, entire communities thrive. Their contributions to agriculture, household welfare, climate adaptation, and entrepreneurship are substantial yet often invisible. Bridging the gender gap can dramatically raise productivity, reduce poverty, and foster inclusive, sustainable growth.

Yet persistent barriers such as limited education, landlessness, financial exclusion, and restrictive social norms continue to suppress women’s potential. These challenges are not insurmountable. Targeted interventions like vocational training, digital financial inclusion, girls’ education, and support for women-led enterprises have already shown success. Initiatives such as BISP and PEOP prove that empowering women is not just good policy, it is sound economics.

Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads. With nearly half its population made up of women, especially in rural areas, the nation cannot afford to leave this demographic behind. Gender equality must move from rhetoric to action, embedded in every policy related to agriculture, finance, education, and infrastructure. Only then can Pakistan unlock the full potential of its rural economy and ensure a resilient, equitable future for all.

References: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics; World Bank; FAO; State Bank of Pakistan; UNESCO; BISP

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Related Stories