INTRODUCING LEGAL REFORMS TO MANAGE WOMEN’S SEGREGATION IN PAKISTAN IN 21TH CENTURY (2000-2017): CRITICAL VIEW OF IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Abstract

Women’s role in economic development is vital and is translated into development process through labor market. In Pakistan, women are largely concentrated in agriculture sector as contributing family workers and in the informal economy with higher risk of vulnerability. Wages of women for the same job is significantly lower than men, they lack appropriate skills and education to compete in the labor market and ultimately end up employment in agriculture and informal sector with little or no social security. They also face higher degree of risk of being unemployed. With the inception of twenty first century, national and provincial governments in Pakistan induced to initiate legal measures to control this disparity and gender blindness in management and labor market. Highest degrees of laws were promulgated by parliament to tackle discrimination and to bring equality in labor force participation especially for women. These laws aimed to eradicated gender inequality, harassment, wages gap, to control domestic violence and honor killing and more important to persuade female labor force into market by providing safe and secure working environment. These efforts on behalf of government did not prove abortive attempts.