Activist to Entrepreneur: The Role of Social Enterprise in Supporting Women's Empowerment in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan has repeatedly ranked as the second worst country for gender inequality in the world'. In Pakistan women and girls face lack of opportunities, discrimination and violence. The literacy rate for women in Pakistan is only 40 per cent, compared to 69 per cent for men; primary school enrolment for girls is only 67 per cent, compared with 81 per cent for boys; less than 30 percent of women are in the paid workforce; only two per cent of business loans go to women; and domestic and sexual violence are endemic". The UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 5 is to 'achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.' There is a lot of work to be done to achieve this by the target date of 2030.