Abstract
Because the system of “purdah” has translated into extreme occupational segregation, a disproportionately large share of Pakistan’s female labour force is employed in stitching/sewing made-ups and garments for export. But since January 2005, when the ATC terminated the decades-old quota regime that regulated international trade in textiles and clothing, the industry has been restructuring to cope with the consequences of increased competition on the newly liberalized global market. Siegmann argues that Pakistan’s competitive position is likely to suffer most in the made-ups/garments segment of the market. If so, women could eventually suffer disproportionate job losses with scant prospects for alternative employment.