Does limited childcare make it harder for Pakistani women to work after marriage?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
Yes. Limited affordable childcare can restrict whether women enter, remain in, or return to paid work after marriage and childbirth, especially where care responsibilities are unequal. Pakistan received zero on both legal and supportive childcare-framework indicators in the 2024 assessment, which identified gaps in center-based provision, family and provider support, quality standards, registries, and financing. Informal family care may help, but access then depends heavily on income, location, and household support.
Sources used
Women, Business and the Law 2024: Pakistan
World Bank
Legal and supportive-framework indicators relevant to women’s safety, work, family and economic rights.View sourceFemale Labor Force Participation in Pakistan
World Bank
Research context on women’s work, marriage and structural barriers to labour-force participation.View source