Unemployment Crisis Deepens in Pakistan: Urgent Reforms Needed

Pakistan’s unemployment rate has risen sharply to 7% from 1.5% over the past decade, according to a Ministry of Planning report.

The report attributes this surge to insufficient GDP growth, which has failed to meet the demands of critical sectors like health and education. It highlights the country’s struggle to create enough jobs, especially for women and youth, noting that unemployment in Pakistan exceeds that of India and Bangladesh.

With the population increasing by 5 million annually, Pakistan faces growing challenges in addressing poverty and meeting basic needs. The Planning Commission estimates that 1.5 million new jobs are needed each year to meet employment demands.

To tackle the crisis, the commission suggests reducing youth unemployment by 6% and cutting women’s unemployment by 17%. The report also points to the significant hurdles Pakistani women face in accessing employment compared to women in neighboring countries.

The report stresses the need for urgent economic reforms to curb unemployment and inflation, calling for strong strategies to boost job creation and stabilize prices