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 every day around 9,200 girls are born into a world where survival, education and protection are far from guaranteed. For many girls, the journey from vulnerability to opportunity is marked by systemic barriers that begin on day one.
Survival, especially in the early years, is the first barrier.
In Pakistan, 40% of children under the age of five are stunted due to malnutrition, a condition that undermines brain development, weakens immunity and limits lifelong potential. Stunting is linked to almost three out of four deaths under the age of five.
Anemia – which affects over half of adolescent girls and most pregnant women – exacerbates the consequences of early marriage and pregnancy, increasing the risk of premature and low birth weight babies with long-term setbacks for children’s growth and cognitive development. Before many girls ever see the inside of a classroom, their future is already in jeopardy. The costs of underinvesting in maternal and child health are measured not only in lives lost, but in reduced potential.
Still, progress is possible. Shabira, a young girl born in Sindh during the devastating floods of 2022, became malnourished and dangerously ill. A mobile health team arrived in her village, screened her and provided essential treatment.
Within two months, her health improved dramatically. Her recovery is proof that timely intervention works. Investing in children’s health and nutrition is not only life-saving, but also the foundation of human capital and future success.
Once survival is assured, education becomes the next key to unlocking girls’ futures. Yet 25 million children in Pakistan remain out of school, half of whom are girls, one of the highest rates of educational exclusion in the world.
Even among those who do participate, nearly 80% of children cannot read or understand age-appropriate texts by age 10, and many lack opportunities to advance their studies beyond 8th grade. This gap reflects entrenched barriers such as poverty, gender bias and underfunded education systems that discourage young girls from attending school.
During a visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I saw a drawing by an Afghan child: “Let me learn, let me fly”, along with a white dove of peace. This plea for opportunity resonated deeply as I listened to children, youth and parents who all emphasized the central role that education plays in shaping their lives.
Education is not just 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. Yet many girls are still denied this basic right. Through informal setups, we can expand access to education for those excluded from formal schooling. These flexible, community-based pathways can allow girls to continue their education despite the odds.
But learning alone is not enough. Protection is just as important.
Almost one in five girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18, three times as many as boys. Early marriage cuts short education, limits economic prospects and traps girls in cycles of poverty.
Adolescence is a critical phase; the right investment can propel girls forward; neglect can leave them permanently. Currently, 56% of girls aged 15 to 24 are not in education, employment or training, a stark contrast to the much lower figure for boys. This difference represents lost potential at the national level.
The economic case for empowering girls is undeniable. Inclusion is not charity; it’s smart economics. With Pakistan’s population expected to exceed 340 million by 2050, investing in girls is critical 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.
Let this decade be remembered not for incremental progress, but for catalytic transformation – systemic, social and sustained. Investing in girls and women is among the most strategic decisions Pakistan can make. It provides returns across generations.
As we mark International Women’s Day, we must move beyond celebration to engagement. The real measure of our resolve will not be in speeches made, but in policies adopted, resources allocated and barriers removed. Every girl, regardless of her birthplace or background, deserves the chance to survive, learn, thrive and lead.
There is reason for hope. Evidence shows that, despite systemic barriers, increasing numbers of girls are achieving higher education – outperforming expectations and, in many contexts, their male peers. Imagine what would be possible if their potential was matched by a fair investment.
Girls are not born without potential; they are born with wings. All too often it is society that chooses to cut them off – through discrimination, neglect and underinvestment. Our job is not to empower girls; it is to remove the barriers that prevent them from using the power they already possess.
Pakistan’s future will be written by the opportunities we choose to create and collectively sustain for girls today. When we give girls space to soar, we do more than uplift individuals—we uplift a nation.
The author is the UNICEF representative in Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pakinomist.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
