Gender Issues in Pakistan

The MIMAP Gender Network Research Agenda Presentation for the GDN Panel Discussion on Gender and Economic Reforms, 30 January 2004, New Delhi, India by Dr Rehana Siddiqui Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Islamabad, Pakistan

The recent economic reforms in Pakistan: The reform package pursued to deal with structural imbalances. A generally held view is that these policies led to rising unemployment, low investment, decline in real wages, capital flight, rise in inequality, poverty, and others. Like most countries, the policies are believed to be gender neutral.

Reforms resulting in: Changing the nature of the labour market Employment status and other dimensions Informal labour market

Rise in prices Rise in Poverty Feminization of the labour force Occupational and industrial choice Impact on wages

Gender Dimensions of Labour market:

 Education Health Work

Low female labour force participation Underestimation of female activity Rise in female unemployment rate Employment status Concentration of females in few occupations Gender discrimination at home and in the labour market.

Low literacy Low enrollment High drop out Low pass percentage Life expectancy and mortality rates Anemia Family Planning Burden sharing within households Discrimination in the labour markets

Non Conventional Indicators of gender bias: Mobility Decision Making Violence Mental distress and mental well-being

Female headed households Relationship between poverty and employment Reponses to poverty: Investment in human capital Population control Employment generation Micro credit

Mental health and subjective well-being: Mental well-being and mental distress are closely linked to socioeconomic indicators.

Improves, particularly in males, with labour market participation In old age, mental health of females is better as compared to men. Improves with level of education for males and declines for females with secondary education. Mental health improves with level of education, particularly for males.

Incidence of Poverty was higher among the female headed households, particularly in rural areas. Incidence of poverty is significantly linked with education, employment status, asset ownership and occupational choice. Decision making and mobility does not differ between females belonging to the poor or non-poor households. Poverty plays a critical role in occupational choice and gender discrimination. Occupational concentration is larger among the working females. Mental distress and mental well-being are closely linked with poverty, work status and employment status. Policy framework should concentrate on efforts to: Ensure assess to facilities to improve human capital and to labour market. Reduce poverty of opportunity, capability, security and empowerment. Documentation of the experience of poverty. Ensure availability of reliable gender-based data. Effective implementation of legislative framework. Effective coordination between various macro level policies and the gender dimensions of the impact. Analysis of macro-micro linkages of the policies, particularly with reference to gender.