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A new report by the International Labor Federation has revealed that women in Pakistan earn significantly less than men in wage employment, with a gender pay gap that remains among the highest globally.
According to the Pakistan Gender Pay Gap Report 2025, published in Dawn, women earn around 25 percent less than men in monthly wages, while the gap in hourly earnings is even wider approximately 30 percent.
These figures are notably higher than the average in lower-middle-income countries, where the monthly wage gap is 21 percent and hourly gap is 17 percent.
The report was released in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.
Speaking at the launch event, Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equal pay for equal work.
He said the report, along with its action plan, is a vital step toward identifying and removing barriers that limit women’s participation in the workforce.
Pakistan has approved the International Labor Organization’s Equal Salary and Anti-Discrimination Conventions.
ILO Country Director said the organization is ready to assist Pakistan in building a transparent wage system, formalizing informal work, and opening real opportunities for women across all sectors.
The report also highlights Pakistan’s low female employment rate.
As of 2021, only 23 percent of women were employed compared to 79 percent of men a staggering 56-point gap, among the widest in South Asia.
Additionally, just 13.5 percent of employees in Pakistan are women, despite many having higher educational qualifications than their male counterparts.
Interestingly, women are more likely to be employed in formal, government, or professional sectors and are often hired on permanent contracts in large organizations.
Yet, wage disparities persist, underscoring the need for urgent reforms to promote gender equality in the workplace.
