Pakistani women face many barriers to political empowerment and participation. Culturally, women have a secondary status to men and are largely restricted to domestic spheres. Politically, women make up only a small percentage of seats in national parliaments globally and in Pakistan. Multiple interconnected factors influence women's participation, including economic conditions, education levels, domestic responsibilities, lack of political experience and training, gender norms restricting mobility and decision-making, and patriarchal traditions viewing politics as unsuitable for women. Prior experience, education, resources, and ambition can help women gain political power, but masculine political cultures within parties also constrain women's equal status and opportunities.