Experts Demand Water Stress Resolution

News Desk

Islamabad: Women in Pakistan have borne a disproportionate share of the economic and social fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, with deteriorating food security, lost income and increased unpaid care responsibilities leaving them more vulnerable, according to a UN report.

The report, titled “Two Years On: The Lingering Gendered Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Asia and the Pacific”, found that women experienced greater deterioration in food security than men in Pakistan and six other countries studied across the region.

The report, jointly published by UN Women and the Asian Development Bank, said the pandemic had compounded existing inequalities as job and income losses made it more difficult for households to access sufficient and nutritious food.

Women were particularly affected because many left paid employment to take on additional responsibilities at home, including caring for sick family members, cleaning and helping children with home schooling.

The report warned that the loss of women’s income, combined with their greater unpaid workload, could further widen gender gaps in poverty and economic independence.

Sarah Knibbs, Officer-in-Charge for UN Women Asia and the Pacific, said women were already carrying most household and care responsibilities before the pandemic, but had taken on much of the additional burden created by the crisis.

The situation was further complicated by natural disasters and extreme weather events across the seven countries covered by the study, including Pakistan. Floods, droughts, cyclones, landslides and other hazards added pressure to households already struggling with the economic consequences of the pandemic.

The report also highlighted disparities in access to essential services. Between 15 and 19 per cent of people in Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands experienced power outages during the pandemic, excluding those who subsequently had their electricity restored.

For women, prolonged lack of electricity increased household responsibilities and raised concerns about safety after dark, particularly as cooking, cleaning and washing typically fall disproportionately on women.

Government support programmes introduced during the pandemic, including financial assistance, subsidies, medical supplies and agricultural support, also did not reach everyone equally. The report noted gender differences in access to some programmes, although people with lower levels of education were generally more likely to benefit because many schemes targeted disadvantaged groups.

The pandemic also exposed differences in vaccination uptake. Across the countries studied, vaccination rates varied between men and women, while women in several Pacific Island states were less likely to receive two doses, partly because of concerns about side effects and misinformation related to pregnancy and breastfeeding.

According to the report, men who did not receive a second dose more commonly cited practical barriers such as appointment schedules, time constraints and the location of vaccination centres.

Asian Development Bank gender equality specialist Samantha Hung stressed the need to incorporate gender-responsive data and policies into post-pandemic recovery programmes.

She said future economic resilience measures should place women and girls at the centre of recovery planning, from policy design through implementation and monitoring.

The report covers Indonesia, Kiribati, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga, highlighting how the pandemic continued to affect women disproportionately even in countries where Covid-19 transmission was relatively limited.