Women's Empowerment through Higher Education in Pakistan: A Critical Factor for Economic Development

Abstract

Higher education (HEdu) is crucial and necessary for both male and female members of any community. Empowerment is the process of allowing or authorizing individuals to think, act, and direct their job autonomously. Education contributes significantly to improving women's living situations and women's empowerment is critical to a country's overall growth. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the role of education to empowering the women and its role in the sustainable development in Pakistan. This study used the secondary data from 2005-2024 and analyze through figures and also used the thematic analysis as well based on discussion. This study found that 49% of the Pakistan population contains on females, and higher education enrollments has significantly contributed in the economic development. Furthermore, this also found that female labor force participation (FLFP) in general and with higher education significantly contribute in the economic development, while, unemployed female labor force has significantly harmed the economic development (GDPpc) in Pakistan. Therefore, this study concluded that based on the empirical evidence and thematic analysis that higher education is crucial factor for women’s empowerment and women’s empowerment (WEmp) is crucial factor for economic development in Pakistan. Therefore, this study highly recommended that government and society take action to attract the female to higher education and patriciate in the labor force to contribute in the economic development.