The Roots of Inequality: Understanding Gender Disparity in Pakistan's STEM Education
Pakistan faces severe gender disparities in education, ranking last in the Asia and Pacific region for equality. Women make up half the population but hold less than 10% of STEM jobs. Deep-rooted challenges, from societal norms to poor infrastructure, keep female participation in science and technology stubbornly low.
To tackle this, the government has launched a series of reforms aimed at doubling the share of female STEM graduates by 2030.
The barriers to women’s STEM education in Pakistan are complex and long-standing. Patriarchal attitudes often discourage girls from pursuing higher studies, while poverty forces families to prioritise sons’ schooling. Safety concerns, such as unreliable transport and long commutes, further limit options for female students. In rural areas, crumbling facilities and scarce resources make quality STEM education nearly inaccessible.
Even when women enter STEM programs, they encounter obstacles. A lack of female educators and role models reinforces the stereotype that science and technology are ‘male fields’. Curricula often overlook local knowledge and create an unwelcoming environment, pushing many women away from these subjects.
In response, Pakistan introduced the National STEM Education Policy in 2023. The plan includes scholarships and reserved seats for women at top universities like NUST and LUMS. Partnerships with UNESCO and the World Bank, such as the SheSTEM initiative launched in 2021, provide training and mentorship. Provincial schemes like Punjab’s ‘Girls in STEM’ programme focus on hands-on learning to boost enrolment and retention.
The goal is clear: raise the proportion of female STEM graduates from 20% today to 40% by the end of the decade. But achieving this will require more than policies—it demands systemic change and long-term investment.
Pakistan’s efforts to close the gender gap in STEM education are underway, with targeted policies and international collaborations now in place. Success will hinge on addressing deep-seated inequalities, from classroom biases to rural infrastructure shortages. Without sustained action, the country risks leaving half its population behind in critical scientific and technical fields.
