ISLAMABAD: A report on ‘Women’s Economic Participation and Empowerment Status’ suggests that because women lag behind in most fields, including economic empowerment, special attention be given to bridging the gap between the men and women in the country.

Launched by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on Wednesday, the reports say that girls have fewer chances of being educated and that almost 40pc of girls aged between six and 10 years are not enrolled in school compared to 30pc of boys.

It says women do not possess the skills demanded in the market which is why they earn below the minimum wage.

The low health status of women is also linked to their vulnerable position in the society.

The report goes on to say that 13pc of women are liable for loans from microfinance organisations and that 26pc of women work as labour.

Speaking at the launch, former NCSW chairperson Khawar Mumtaz said the report’s findings are imperative for drafting appropriate policies and measures.

She said the report also deserves appreciation for developing the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index for the first time in Pakistan.

Talking to Dawn afterwards, Ms Mumtaz said that though the findings in the report suggest that opportunities for women increase the more educated they were, it was also a fact that 58pc of female doctors were not practicing.

“Steps should be taken to facilitate women in getting an education and to discourage violence against them. Unless steps for the betterment of women are taken, we cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

Speaking at the launch, UN Women Country Representative Jamshed kazi said the report displays the relationship between malnutrition and lesser work opportunities in relation to women.

Investing in women and girls is the right and smart thing to do, said Chargé d’Affaires Embassy of Denmark Helle Nielsen, who added that research had shown that investing in women is the most effective investment in development.

“Women spend 90pc of their salaries on their children, their health, education and the well-being of the family while men only spend 30 to 40pc on the same causes,” she said.

Women’s work, paid and unpaid, should be recognised, acknowledged and tracked at district and provincial levels so that Pakistan can report them in the SDGs, said Dr Yasmin Zaidi.

Captain of the National Women’s Basketball Team Sana Mahmud said that the wage gap between men and women also extends to sports with women being paid far less than their male counterparts.

The data will help in correcting decision making said Punjab Commission on the Status of Women chairperson Fouzia Viqar who said she hoped the analysis will inform the government’s development schemes.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2016