On International Women’s Day 2026, we are reminded that the future of Pakistan and Pakistani women is inseparable from the empowerment of its girls. When we invest in girls, we don’t just change individual lives; We shape the trajectory of economies, societies and nations.
Today, 54 million girls under the age of 18 live in Pakistan, and around 9,200 girls are born every day in a world where survival, education and protection are far from guaranteed. For many girls, the path from vulnerability to opportunity is marked by systemic barriers that start from day one.
Survival, especially in the early years, is the first barrier.
In Pakistan, 40% of children under five are stunted due to malnutrition, a condition that undermines brain development, weakens immunity and limits lifelong potential. Stunting is linked to nearly three in four deaths in children under five.
Anemia, which affects more than half of adolescent girls and most pregnant women, worsens the consequences of early marriage and pregnancy, increasing the risk of premature and low birth weight babies, with long-term delays in children’s growth and cognitive development. Before many girls see the inside of a classroom, their future is already at risk. The cost of insufficient investment in maternal and child health is not only measured in lives lost, but also in potential lives diminished.
However, progress is possible. Shabira, a young woman born in Sindh during the devastating floods of 2022, was left malnourished and seriously ill. A mobile health team arrived at her village, examined her and provided essential treatment.
Within two months, his health improved dramatically. His recovery is proof that timely intervention works. Investing in early childhood health and nutrition not only saves lives but also forms the foundation for human capital and future success.
Once survival is assured, education becomes the next key to unlocking girls’ futures. However, 25 million children in Pakistan remain out of school, half of them girls, one of the highest rates of educational exclusion in the world.
Even among those who attend, nearly 80% of children cannot read or understand age-appropriate texts by age 10, and many lack opportunities to advance their studies beyond eighth grade. This gap reflects entrenched barriers such as poverty, gender bias, and underfunded education systems that discourage adolescent girls from attending school.
During a visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I saw an Afghan child’s drawing: “Let me learn, let me fly,” next to a white dove of peace. This call for opportunity resonated deeply as I listened to children, teens, and parents, all emphasizing the central role education plays in shaping their lives.
Education is not only a right; It is a multiplier. It drives economic growth, creates healthier communities and transforms societies. For Pakistani girls, each additional year of schooling increases their future earnings by up to 10%.
Educated girls marry later, have healthier children, and contribute significantly to their families and communities. However, many girls are still denied this fundamental right. Through informal settings, we can expand access to education for those excluded from formal education. These flexible, community-based pathways can allow girls to continue their education despite difficulties.
But learning alone is not enough. Protection is equally vital.
Nearly one in five girls in Pakistan is married before the age of 18, three times the rate of boys. Early marriage disrupts education, limits economic prospects, and traps girls in cycles of poverty.
Adolescence is a critical phase; the right investment can propel girls forward; Negligence can leave them behind permanently. Currently, 56% of girls aged 15-24 are not in education, employment or training, a stark contrast to the much lower figure for boys. This disparity represents a loss of potential at the national level.
The economic arguments for empowering girls are undeniable. Inclusion is not charity; It is smart economics. With Pakistan’s population projected to surpass 340 million by 2050, investing in girls is essential to unlocking Pakistan’s demographic dividend. Aligning our policies, budgets and institutions around girls’ health, education and protection is not optional: it is essential for sustainable growth.
May this decade be remembered not for incremental progress, but for catalytic transformation: systemic, social and sustained. Investing in girls and women is one of the most strategic decisions Pakistan can make. Produces returns over generations.
As we mark International Women’s Day, we must go beyond celebration and reach for commitment. The true measure of our resolve will not be in the speeches given, but in the policies enacted, the resources allocated, and the barriers dismantled. All girls, regardless of their birthplace or background, deserve the opportunity to survive, learn, thrive and lead.
There are reasons for hope. Evidence shows that, despite systemic barriers, increasing numbers of girls are reaching tertiary education, exceeding expectations and, in many contexts, those of their male peers. Imagine what would be possible if your potential was matched by equitable investment.
Girls are not born without potential; They are born with wings. Too often, it is society that decides to eliminate them, through discrimination, abandonment and lack of investment. Our task is not to empower girls; It is removing the barriers that prevent them from using the power they already possess.
Pakistan’s future will be written by the opportunities we collectively decide to create and sustain for girls today. When we give girls the space to fly, we do more than lift up people: we lift up a nation.
The author is the representative of Unicef in Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PakGazette.tv.
Originally published in The News
