Empowerment and Employment in Pakistan

Empowerment and employment are not luxuries — they are the foundations of peace, stability, and progress

We cannot afford to let our youth — men and women alike — remain voiceless and jobless. Their dignity, their future, and the strength of our nation depend on it.

By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden 

In today’s complex world, where challenges range from rising inequality to youth frustration, two pillars stand tall in creating solutions: empowerment and employment. In Pakistan — and particularly in the province of Sindh — these are not just buzzwords. They are deeply tied to questions of survival, identity, and hope for a better tomorrow.

Empowerment means more than just having rights — it means being able to exercise those rights. Employment gives people the means to make choices, to provide for their families, and to contribute meaningfully to society. When a person earns with dignity, they gain not only income but also izzat (honor), independence, and a sense of purpose.

This is equally true for men and women. In Pakistan’s traditional structures — especially in rural Sindh — economic roles are often gendered. Men are seen as breadwinners and women as caretakers. But as economic pressures mount and global awareness spreads, these lines are being blurred. And they must be blurred — for real, lasting progress to occur.

Economic Independence and Dignity: A Cultural Shift in Sindh

In many parts of Sindh, earning an income changes the way individuals, especially women, are treated in their homes. A woman who earns through sewing, school teaching, or small-scale agriculture holds more decision-making power in family matters. Her voice is heard with more weight, especially when it comes to education, healthcare, or marriage decisions.

For men, especially those struggling to find jobs despite having degrees, the inability to earn is emotionally and socially crushing. In cities, young men with master’s degrees drive rickshaws or work in retail shops just to stay afloat. This disconnect between education and employment eats away at self-worth.

In Pakistan, earning an income directly changes how individuals are seen by their families. A son who brings in money gets more respect. A daughter who contributes financially is protected from early marriage. Dignity is deeply tied to rozi (livelihood).

Gender Equality in Employment: Slowly, the Tide is Turning

Women in Pakistan make up about 49% of the population, but their labor force participation remains shockingly low, around 22%. In rural Sindh, barriers are even steeper. Cultural restrictions, lack of transport, early marriages, and the absence of childcare facilities keep women confined to their homes. Yet, some shifts are visible.

Women are being trained in embroidery and livestock management, while solar engineers among them are bringing electricity to underserved villages. These are not isolated stories — they are part of a growing movement.

Meanwhile, men in lower-income families bear intense pressure to provide. If they cannot, they are often shamed, which can lead to depression, addiction, or even crime.

In Pakistan, women face mobility issues, honor-based restrictions, and limited access to formal networks. Men, on the other hand, suffer from a lack of quality jobs and societal pressure to never show weakness or ask for help.

Employment as a Tool for Social Empowerment

In rural Sindh, employment is one of the strongest antidotes to dependency. When a woman earns through a home-based business or a man finds stable work, the entire household benefits. Children stay in school longer, healthcare is prioritized, and families break free from loan cycles.

Case in point: in a small village, a widow who learned to make pottery began selling her work through a local market. Within a year, she had repaired her home, sent her daughters to school, and even helped a neighbor learn the craft.

Employment in Pakistan isn’t just about survival — it transforms entire families. It shifts the power balance in favor of those who were previously voiceless.

Breaking Stereotypes: Slowly, But Surely

In Pakistani society, gender roles are deeply ingrained. A man cooking or taking care of children is seen as weak; a woman working late is judged as immodest. But change is underway.

Urban centers have begun to embrace more flexible roles. Men are seen pushing strollers in parks. Women are running startups from home or leading university departments. In rural areas, the change is slower, but there are inspiring exceptions.

One example: a school where male teachers encourage girls to pursue science and technology, shattering norms about what girls should study or aspire to.

While stereotypes still dominate, change is real and visible, especially where education and exposure are present. The youth are more open to questioning traditions and building new ones.

Education, Skills, and Real Opportunities

Education without employability is a national crisis. Each year, thousands of graduates from universities enter a saturated job market with little guidance or relevant skills.

Vocational training programs, when implemented well, are game-changers. Institutes and women’s training centers have started offering practical skills, from computer literacy to stitching and mobile repair.

Digital platforms are also playing a role. Freelancing is growing among the youth, especially in urban areas. But awareness and access in rural regions remain low.

Pakistan needs a serious investment in market-relevant education and skill development. Degrees alone won’t empower the population — usable, localized skills will.

Rural Challenges: The Heart of the Issue

The challenges in rural Sindh are often invisible in national conversations. Poor transport, lack of internet, unsafe public spaces, and cultural stigma around women working outside are massive hurdles. Young men often migrate to cities, leaving behind broken families and overburdened women.

Villages report young people sitting idle for years despite being educated. The emotional toll of hopelessness is staggering.

Empowerment in rural Pakistan will only happen when infrastructure, awareness, and safety are addressed together, not in isolation. It’s not just about jobs; it’s about access and acceptance.

When States Fail to Provide Employment: The Domino Effect

In Pakistan, the state’s failure to generate employment leads to migration, extremism, urban slums, and broken families. Major urban centers absorb thousands every year from the country’s interior regions — many end up in informal settlements with no access to health or education.

When people are ready to work but cannot find meaningful employment, they lose faith in the system. They disengage from political processes, fall into debt traps, or are lured by illegal activities.

A country with unemployed youth is sitting on a social time bomb. If people are not empowered to earn, they stop dreaming — and that’s the death of progress.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for Pakistan and Sindh

Empowerment and employment are not luxuries — they are the foundations of peace, stability, and progress. Pakistan, and particularly its underserved regions like rural Sindh, must treat these as urgent development goals.

This means:

• Investing in quality, skills-based education
• Creating safe, inclusive spaces for women to work
• Redefining masculinity to include emotional and caregiving roles
• Encouraging public-private partnerships for rural job creation
• Improving transport and digital access

We cannot afford to let our youth — men and women alike — remain voiceless and jobless. Their dignity, their future, and the strength of our nation depend on it.

Let us not ask if people are ready to work. Let us ask instead: Are we, as a society, ready to empower them to do so?

Read: The Architecture of Happiness

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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.