1. Acknowledgements:
First of all thanks to my dear Allah almighty who gave me strength and courage to
Complete my task. Then thanks to my supervisor Mam Gulnaz she encourage me
and gives new ideas thoughts on my topic and this is dedicated to my dear parents
who help on every stage of my life.
Maria Iram!

2. IMPACT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ON GROWTH OF PAKISTAN
ECONOMY
Introduction:
Women empowerment is very complex concept that is constantly being defined
and re-defined elaborated and clarified. It is deeply interlinked with gender equality
and equity which appaears to be ultimate goal of women empowerment. The term
‘women empowerment’ has now become most debatable issue in the development
field. It is vividly recognized that women empowerment is essential for sustainable
economic growth and reduction in poverty in developing countries (Klasen, 1999). In
the World Bank Policy Research Report, it is unambiguously suggested that women
empowerment is being progressively recognized as an important policy goal for
improving not just the well-being of women themselves but also for its positive impact
on the family (King and Mason, 2001)
Muslim women empowerment is also one of the key issues that have been
talked about not only within Muslim countries but in rest of the world. But in reality,
today Muslim women are one of the least empowered segments of society. Islam is a
religion where women got a respectable place about 1400 years ago. It is not Islamic
values but corruption and un-Islamic traditions imported from other cultures as reasons
behind the lack of empowerment. Unfortunately for the Ummah, we are not able to
empower a fundamental human resource because of lack of understanding and proper
Islamic knowledge on the issue of women empowerment.
The holy book Quran declared:

3. “And (as for) the believers, both men and women – they are friends and protectors of
one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is
wrong, and are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and pay heed unto
God and His Messenger.” (At-Taubah 9:71)
It must first be declared that Islam is a religion of balance; balance between the
mundane and the spiritual; balance between work and worship; balance between self-
preservation and selflessness. This balance or ‘ADL, as the Quran calls it, is the very
essence of the human creation, in which the body and spirit are united and balanced
and on whose shoulders consequently lies the responsibility of the maintenance of the
balance in nature, both societal balance as well as the eco-system. Islam as a religion
seeks first to maintain that balance in man and then guides man to maintain that
balance in society and the eco-system which plays host to the human society. The
disruption of this balance is what Islam calls injustice, ZULM.
In the holy Quran Allah always addresses both men and women which is the
proof of their equality and importance, as it is mentioned:
“For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and
women, for true men and women who are patient, for men and women who humble
themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for
men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much
in Allah's praise - For them all has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward." (Al-
Ahzab 33:35)
Women constitute approximately half of the population in Pakistan. Due to
recent concern and emphasis on removing gender inequality and improving women

4. empowerment as Millennium Developmental Goal, many efforts have been initiated
by the Government and NGOs in Pakistan. According to UNDP’s Human
Development Report, Gender Equality Measure (GEM) for South Asia shows the
lowest value (0.235) among all the regions of the world. Furthermore, as per Gender
development Index (GDI), Pakistan has been noted the poorest (0.179) among South
Asian Countries where the average index is 0.226 (MHHDC, 2005). According to
UNDP report of 2007-08, the HDI for Pakistan is 0.551, which ranks Pakistan on
136th out of 177 countries (Chaudhry and Nosheen, 2009).
While gender inequality in wages (least frequently studied) in contexts of high
female education appears to be conducive to growth in early stages of export-oriented
industrialization, its viability as a profit-maximizing strategy starts to decline once
labor markets tighten and surplus female labor starts to dry up (Seguino, 2000; Mitra-
Kahn and Mitra-Kahn)
This paper shows that by empowering women i.e. giving them their rights of
education, health, job opportunities, decision making power, better living standard,
removing violence, poverty reduction, and welfare will bring development in the
economy. However, even though many studies have been conducted on women
empowerment, there has been very little research done on the topic that empowering
women leads to the economic development. The purpose of the present study is to
know whether women empowerment leads to the development of economy.
Research question:
Is there is increase in economic development of a country due to women
empowerment?

5. Research hypothesis:
If women are being empowered then there is gradually increase in growth of economy.
Review of literature:
A large number of studies relating to the women empowerment in the world
have been emerged during the past few decades. Among those several studies, there
are very few in which true concept of women empowerment is presented. But very few
studies have been attempted to address the issue of women empowerment according to
the Islamic view point in Pakistan especially based on empirical analysis.
Nevertheless, we present review of some significant studies:
Islam is a complete code of life which ensures the rights of all members of
society, especially has placed women on a high status of honor and recognition. The
Islamic concept of women empowerment is studied by different researchers in
different countries like, Chamberlayne (1968) has studied the family system of
Muslims and appreciated the unity among the Muslim culture with slight variations
according to regional attributes.
Badawi (1971) in his essay has presented the detailed description about how Islam
has brought revolution in the life of women by comparing their status before Islam. He
throws light on different aspects of Islamic empowerment. Bugaje (1997) has answere
to all the questions about the low status of Muslim women and proved from Quran and
Sunnah that Islam ensures highest level of women empowerment.
A large number of women has entered in the labor force but not been treated
as equals to men. They earn less than men and have less opportunity for growth
(Goldin, C., 1990)

6. Investing in women is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do (Ban Ki
Moon, 2008).
Almost in every country, women have longer working hours as compared to
men, but their income is less and they have poor living standard. Unpaid work badly
affects the health and welfare of the children and other home members. Poor women
have more unpaid jobs, longer working hours and have poor working conditions
during bad times to support their families. Parents think women have less paid work;
they have an intension to spend less in their education, leads to further women poverty
(Women’s Work and Economic Empowerment).
Methodology:
After making a careful review of available literature on the subject, as well as
using such tools as interviews with different people to obtain the desired information.
The present study based on qualitative method of social research. It examines that how
empowerment of women effects the growth of economy of Pakistan. This research is
conducted by using purposive sampling.
Data collection:
An open ended and close ended questionnaire is used for data collection. There
is total sample of 50 students all are female and singe and there age is between 20 to
25.the questionnaire focused on how empowerment of women effects the growth of a
country. How women decide to work in Pakistan and due to which factors they decide
to go out of there home. Is government take their part in women empowerment?
Percentage method, graphical analysis and pie chart are used to analysis the data.

7. Participants:
Total: 50
Female: all are female
Age: 20 to 25
Variable: is government take part in women empowerment
Categories percentages
Yes 29
No 21
Variable: women harassment at their work place
Categories percentages
Yes 45%
No 5%
45
5
yes
no

8. Variable: women decision of work
Categories percentages
Independent 15
Better future 20
Personal interest 15
45
5
yes
no
20
15
15
better future
independent
personal
interest

9. Results and discussion:
Since Islam is most widely accepted the women empowerment but this is not
true in the context of Pakistan. As a Muslim country our government does nt not take
any good initiatives for women empowerment. and we know that women has a major
part in the growth of a country. They decided to do work at their own decision and for
their better future but most of the time married women do this for the better future of
their children but unmarried does this for support their family and due to some need.
But women faced harassment at their work place.
There are two rationales for supporting active policies to promote women. The
first is that equity is valuable in and of itself: women are currently worse-off than men,
and this Inequality in genders is repulsive in its own right. For example, in the United
Nation’s 2005 report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Kofi Annan, the
Secretary General of the United Nations, writes: “The full participation of women to
all levels of decision-making is a basic Human right.” The second, a central argument
in the discourse of policymakers, is that women play a fundamental role in
development. The gender gap in education, political participation and employment
opportunities should therefore be reduced not only because it is equitable to do so, but
also because it will have beneficial consequences on many other society wide
outcomes.
Education could have an effect, for example, through, for example, by
improving their understanding of how to raise children, use contraception, and manage
their home.It was reported that the main hindrance in our society is the belief that the
role of women is only to look after kids and home while men has to fulfill all financial

10. needs but actually both men and women should play their role equally in all aspects to
keep balance in the society and share responsibility for all good or bad. It’s the basic
human right for women to work. They should stand free of all biased selection and
discrimination at work place, which is the basic hindrance.
Respondents viewed that women have the brains and are capable of doing the
same work done by men. Hurdle to women empowerment is actually in the minds of
people. Women know that wrong is being done but feel that it’s useless to speak
against men. Women accept that they belong to a lower class than men. The first basic
concept of women empowerment is educating women and giving them ample training
for their desired fields. Without education, there can be no empowerment or stability.
Women can play vital role for economic growth as there are more than 53% women in
Pakistan, so their economic contribution can make a difference in GDP. Secondly
women have unique skills, those if capitalize it can be a strong outcome in the form of
effective human capital. Participants were of the view that women must pursue higher
education and career. Male dominancy should be minimized to let women grow
further. A society should be developed where women are equally empowered on doing
stuff. Men don’t want to see women grow, they take them non-seriously. Women
should speak for their own rights.
Recommendations:
Following are the suggestions for empowering women:
 Institutions should be developed for providing equal resources to men and
women
 Policy action should be taken to reduce gender inequality.

11.  Women should be provided with the education and job opportunities
 Male dominancy should be handled in a peaceful manner.
 Women should have access to economic resources which leads to the
economic growth.
 For the same work equal amount of payment should be given to both men and
women and the amount should be reasonable enough so that they could spend
better life.
 There should be no discrimination in assigning work to people based on
gender. Both men and women should be given equal opportunities.
 Safe working conditions should be provided to both men and women.
Conclusion
Women are always ignored in our society. Without women contribution society cannot
develop. Women have obstacles in every aspect of life. Empowering women has dual
benefits, first to the women and second to the society. When we empower a woman,
actually we are empowering family. In empowering women education plays an
important role. Education is the basic right of women. Men do not want women to get
educated and make their career. Male dominancy should be minimized because it’s
compulsory for empowering women. Women should have higher education and career
opportunities. No one will speak for women; they should fight for their own rights
Silence of women will not give them their rights. Women having rights are more
confident, have better living standard and they can make their own decisions. For the
development of the economy women and men both should work together and women

12. should utilize their skills. Women should use their hidden abilities. Women
empowerment reduces poverty from the society because they can spend more on their
families and don’t depend on others. A society where women are having their rights is
developed. Same wages and salaries should be given to men and women for the same
nature of work. There should be no gender discrimination at work place. For women
empowerment first thing to do is to change the thinking of the people. Women must
have access to all resources and credits.
Reference Cites:
 S, Mariam. 2014., Woman empowerment and economic development and
explorartory research in Pakistan. Journal of Business Study Quarterly. Vol(5)
 C, Imran., M. Lodhi.,Woman empowerment in Pakistan with special refrence
to Islamic viewpoint, An empirical study. Pakistan Journal of Social
Scinces.Vol(32). pp177-183.
 K. Naila., Woman’s economic empowerment, An inclusive growth, Labor
market and enterprise development.School of Oriental and African Studies,
UK.
 S, Rubina.2011., Woman’s empowerment in Pakistan,A scoping study. Woman
Empowerment Journalof Pakistan.
 Chamberlayne, 1968., Women empowerment world development in
Bangaladesh.

13.  Chaudhry, I. S. (2007). Impact of Gender Inequality in Education on Economic
Growth: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan. The Pakistan Horizon, 60 (4), 81-
92

14. Questionnaire:
IMPACT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ON THE GROWTH OF
ECONOMY OF PAKISTAN
Gender: ………………..
Education: ……………..
Age: …………………….
Marital status: ………………….
1) Since Islam is the most widely accepted the women empowerment. Is this
statement is true in the context of Pakistan?
Yes No
2) Is the government taken solid initiatives to ensure full participation of women
in all spheres of national life.
Yes No
3) Do you think that women empowerment has significance impact on the growth
of economy of Pakistan?
Yes No
4) How do women decide to work in Pakistan?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………
5) Do you think that real problem is not law making but law implementation.

15. Yes No
6) Do you think that women in our country face harassment at work place?
Yes No
7) Do you think that women are usually less paid in our society? If yes why?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
……………………….
8) Have you asked that which subject you want to study?
Yes No
9) Do you think that lack of education and economic opportunities for women
restrict the potential of women to think about their rights?
Yes No
10) Domestic violence is often ignored or even condoned by the state on the
ground that is a “private matter” is fair way to treat with problem?
Yes No
11) Do you think that poverty can be reduced by addressing gender disparity?
Yes No
12) What is your suggestion on the impact of women empowerment on the growth
of our economy?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………