Strategies to Reduce Gender Bias and Encourage Female Participation in engineering workforce in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan faces a severe gender disparity, ranking 148th globally in the 2025 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report. Despite women comprising half the population, only 33,000 are licensed engineers with the Pakistan Engineering Council, and approximately 70% of female engineering graduates remain unemployed or underutilized. This study aims to identify strategies to reduce gender bias and increase female participation across Pakistan’s engineering sector. A mixed methods approach was adopted, combining qualitative interviews with female engineers and industry stakeholders, and quantitative surveys of graduates and employers, while examining workplace culture, institutional frameworks, and regulatory barriers. Findings highlight structural, cultural, and professional obstacles, with field-based roles remaining largely male dominated. Pakneftegaz, through mentorship and professional development initiatives, serves as a model for supporting women engineers. Implementing inclusive policies, strengthening institutional support, and promoting professional growth are essential to narrowing gender gap and fostering innovation and sustainable development in Pakistan’s engineering workforce.