EDUCATE THE GIRLS: THE EFFECTS OF GENDER TARGETED CASH TRANSFERS ON FEMALE SCHOOLING AND EARLY MARRIAGE IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study delves into the transformative impact of the "Zewar-e-Taleem Program", a targeted conditional cash transfer initiative aimed at enhancing female literacy in underprivileged districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Using data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement survey (district level) for the years 2019-20, the study seeks to assess how this program influenced female enrollment rates in public schools, as well as the age at which adolescent girls enter into marriage in these districts. The findings of the study are both noteworthy and encouraging. Specifically, the research indicates that the "Zewar-e-Taleem Program" has resulted in an increase in female enrollment in schools. Additionally, the program has contributed to a substantial decrease in adolescent girls' age of marriage compared to a control group. These results underscore the effectiveness of targeted cash transfer programs as a tool for promoting social change and gender equality in developing countries.