UN Women Pakistan convened leaders from government, the private sector, and civil society at the TransformCare Forum to spotlight the central role of the care economy in Pakistan’s development. Participants emphasized that policies and investments in care work are essential to promoting gender equality, driving economic growth, and enhancing social equity across the country.
The forum brought together senior figures to examine how care services and labor can be integrated into national development strategies. Sarwat Salahuddin, Chief Ethics and Diversity Officer at Jazz Pakistan, moderated the discussion, guiding exchanges between policymakers, regulators, and civil society advocates.
Panelists included Amena Aly from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Musarrat Jabeen, Executive Director of the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Syed Moeez Ud Din, CEO of the Foundation for Ageing and Inclusive Development, and Tauseef Dilshad Khatana, Additional Secretary of the Punjab Labour & Human Resource Department. Each speaker contributed perspectives on regulatory, planning, and social dimensions of care work.
Discussion focused on translating policy commitments into practical measures, such as expanding access to quality care services, recognizing and formalizing care work, and creating supportive labor and social protection frameworks. Participants argued that such measures would not only address gendered labor disparities but also unlock wider economic benefits by enabling greater workforce participation and protecting vulnerable populations.
Speakers called for coordinated action across government departments, the private sector, and civil society to build sustainable care systems. They highlighted the need for data-driven policymaking, investment in care infrastructure, and legal and regulatory reforms to ensure care work is visible, valued, and effectively supported within Pakistan’s broader development agenda.
