KARACHI:
To ascend towards the status of a developed nation, Pakistan needs to educate and emancipate its female population. At present, there is a wide gap between male and female literacy rates, which has a direct impact on the overall growth and development of society and the country.
Emancipating women and drawing them towards education will not only improve the literacy rate of the country but also reduce issues such as human trafficking and child labour. Education will equip women with skills, and they will be less vulnerable to human trafficking. Educated women will also contribute economically by becoming an active part of the workforce, which will increase productivity and growth levels. According to the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, children of educated women are more likely to survive past the age of five. Also, educated women will ensure that their children receive a proper education, which will positively impact future development.
Educating women is integral for population control as education reduces fertility rates over time and increased participation in the workforce will encourage family planning. Educated women are more likely to end up in a range of professions boosting their income potential. Ultimately, the country’s GDP also improves whilst the poverty rate will decline. I want to urge the relevant authorities to introduce concrete policies and a plan to encourage education amongst women in both rural and urban areas to boost long-term growth, progress and development.
Hafiz Bilal
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
