In Pakistan, millions of women work in the informal sector, powering the country’s circular economy, from waste collection to textile upcycling and plastic repurposing. Despite their critical role, they face systemic exclusion, gender-specific vulnerabilities, and economic marginalization. Women earn lower wages, lack social protection, and have limited access to decision-making processes. The circular economy, which thrives on resource efficiency and waste reduction, relies heavily on the unpaid and underpaid labor of these women. To accelerate action and achieve a gender-inclusive circular economy, the government, private sector, and civil society must integrate informal women workers into the national policy dialogue and decision-making processes. This requires ensuring minimum wage protection, social security, and legal rights. Furthermore, microfinance institutions, commercial banks, and large-scale manufacturers must provide gender-responsive financing and procurement opportunities to women-led businesses. Occupational safety, protection, and skills training are also crucial for their empowerment. A just circular economy cannot exist without gender justice, and it is time to elevate women’s contributions from invisible labor to leadership roles in sustainable industries.
Here is a rewritten version of the line without additional response margins to mainstream: Bypassing horse-trading with the broader market
