The European Union, NCSW and UNDP launch landmark report on gender equality in Pakistan’s private sector

Islamabad, 11 June 2026 - The European Union (EU), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched "Women at Work: Closing the Gap" - a landmark report examining the state of gender equality in Pakistan's private sector and outlining practical reforms to strengthen women's economic participation, workplace protections, and leadership.

Produced under the EU-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, the report reveals that women's labour force participation remains stagnant at around 30 percent despite improvements in education and skills development. The gender pay gap remains above 20 percent, while women continue to be concentrated in low-paid, informal, insecure, and low-authority work.
The launch brought together senior government officials, private sector representatives, development and diplomatic partners, labour rights organisations, civil society representatives, and UN agencies to discuss the findings and advance dialogue on building more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

H.E. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, highlighted the importance of advancing women's labour rights and workplace equality, stating that, "Gender equality is not only a fundamental human rights issue, but also essential for sustainable economic growth and social progress. Strengthening women's participation in the workforce and ensuring safe and equitable workplaces are closely linked to Pakistan's international commitments, including under the GSP+ framework. This report provides important evidence and practical recommendations to support continued progress toward inclusive and rights-based economic development."

Drawing on nationwide consultations, interviews, and a review of workplace policies and institutional frameworks, the report identifies persistent barriers to women's entry, retention, and advancement in the workforce. These include workplace harassment, limited leadership opportunities, weak implementation of gender-responsive policies, and inadequate protections for women in informal work. The report calls for coordinated reforms to strengthen labour governance, workplace protections, leadership pathways, supply-chain accountability, worker infrastructure, entrepreneurship support, and access to remedy.

Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasised that, "Women's economic empowerment is a powerful driver of inclusive growth and sustainable development. Pakistan cannot fully realise its development potential while women remain underrepresented in leadership and formal employment. This report underscores the need for coordinated action across government, business, and civil society to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and build a more inclusive economy that works for everyone."

The launch marks an important milestone under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, reinforcing joint efforts by the EU, UNDP, and NCSW to advance gender equality, strengthen rights-based governance, and promote inclusive economic opportunities through evidence-based policymaking and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

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For further details, please contact:
• Fizza Bangash, Head of Communications, UNDP Pakistan, at [email protected] or +92 (51) 835 5631
• Samar Saeed Akhtar, Communications, Press and Information Officer, [email protected], Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan

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