Where the Sea Meets Opportunity: A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Study of Women Workers in the Fish Processing Industry of Pakistan

Abstract

The fish processing industry in Pakistan is widely perceived as male-dominated, as reflected in prevailing policy narratives and public discourse. Fishermen, vessel owners, and exporters are accorded central importance. Yet this narrative conceals a significant reality: women constitute a substantial portion of the post-harvest workforce. From peeling shrimp and fish to sorting, cleaning, grading, and packaging, they do it all. Women form the operational backbone of the fish processing industry. Yet their role is marginalized in many ways. This case study examines the existing work experiences of women in the Pakistani fish industry through the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This case study employed a qualitative analysis that drew on 20 semi-structured interviews and close field observations of how these dynamic women function at a major fisheries harbour. The results reveal that these women are the pillars of the fish processing industry, sustaining both productivity and continuity, yet remaining unseen in sectoral governance. Moreover, this study aims to highlight how the fishing industry is sustained by these resilient women rather than merely serving as a support function for their male counterparts. Also, this study contributes to debates in maritime economies on DEI and the need for gender-responsive labor policies and inclusive fisheries development strategies in Pakistan.