Islamabad: A new survey indicates that a significant portion of Pakistanis believe women face fewer job and career opportunities compared to men. According to Gilani Research Foundation, the WIN Worldviews Survey 2026 found that 40% of Pakistani respondents perceive a disparity favoring men in job prospects, aligning closely with the 42% global perception. Additionally, 34% of Pakistanis believe that men and women have equal opportunities, a figure below the global average of 40%.

The survey reveals that within Pakistan, perceptions vary slightly between genders. Forty-three percent of Pakistani women perceive fewer opportunities compared to 38% of men, a contrast to the wider global gender gap, where 52% of women and 32% of men share this view. The survey, conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, involved 1,000 participants across urban and rural regions and was carried out from December 2025 to January 2026.

The international context presents varied perspectives, with countries like the Philippines showing a more optimistic view, where 74% believe in equal opportunities, contrasting sharply with Croatia and several European countries where perceptions of inequality are higher. Pakistan’s figures fall between these extremes, reflecting a nuanced view of gender equality in the workplace.

The survey’s findings underscore the ongoing conversation about gender equality in career opportunities in Pakistan, highlighting that while perceptions of inequality persist, the gender gap in these perceptions is narrower than the global average.