Pakistan, July 4 -- By Mobeen Arshad,

In most households across Pakistan, a particular rhythm begins with the first light of day. A woman wakes up often before everyone else and the work begins: preparing breakfast, organizing school bags, sweeping floors, folding clothes, managing emotions, and then repeating it all with dinner. This rhythm rarely breaks, and even more rarely is it paused.

What's most striking is that none of it is formally recognized as "work."

Across South Asia, millions of women dedicate their lives to maintaining households, raising children, and enabling others to succeed often without breaks, weekends, or appreciation. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (2023) reports that women perform over 90% of unpaid care wo...