Slow Economic Growth
- Slow economic growth is caused by the lack of education for girls. As stated by Secretary (Labor) Government of Sindh Noor Muhammad Laghari, the literacy rate of females in Pakistan is at 39.6 % compared to that of males at 67.7 %. School participation rate is 27 per cent and 73 per cent respectively for females and males. This low level of educational attainment interferes with the female participation rate, which is about 11 per cent only. Education increases the productivity and efficiency of individuals and it produces skilled labor-force that is capable of improving the economy. Hence, is crucial for the country's economic growth.
- However, as can be seen from the above statistics, most Pakistani women are not given the chance to study. Furthermore, since literate women earn twice as much as illiterate women, with low number of literate women being able to be in the workforce, the economy of the country has been progressing at a slow rate. Gender gap in employment can reduce the overall ability of the work force as the pool of talent employers can draw from is reduced. This would impede the country's economy. The country’s recovery from the global financial crisis has been the slowest in South Asia.
- A family's investments on children's education will be in favor of a boy's education. However, if girls are more talented than boys, this investment will be perceived as a misallocation of resources, resulting in poor quality human capital accumulation. This will ultimately slow down the pace of the economic growth.
- According to World Development Indicators (WDI) (2013) 60% of Pakistan's population lives below the poverty line and 21% earns less than $1.25 a day. Pakistan is an developing country trapped in a vicious poverty cycle. Slow economic growth reduces the chances of the country chances of pulling itself out of poverty.