KARACHI:
Although the number of women in education and the labour force has increased in Pakistan, this is only limited to women in urban areas. A large proportion of the female population remains disempowered and deprived of basic rights. Young girls in rural and tribal areas are subjected to different forms of oppression including forced marriage, honour killing, etc. Unfortunately, women rights groups and activists fail to reach these areas due to cultural gatekeeping.
Even women in urban areas are faced with different challenges in education and at work. Due to gender discrimination in institutes, men are more likely to receive better opportunities and promotions for socio-economic mobility. Workplace harassment is extremely commonplace and even minor policies and measures such as maternal leaves, separate toilets for female employees, etc, have been disregarded by workplaces. Such impediments often discourage women and prevent them from working and utilising their potential.
Without empowering women, Pakistan will achieve little progress. There needs to be increased emphasis on education for girls across the country. The education department must target rural areas with tailored policies and incentivise low-income families – through scholarships and grants – to send their daughters to school. Workplaces should be encouraged to implement employee-friendly policies with a focus on female employees. More importantly, women should not be prevented from pursuing higher education or a career in any field. They should be supported and facilitated in all fields. To achieve growth and progress, increased female participation is crucial in the social, political, and economic spheres as it will improve representation and inclusivity.
Marij Batool
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2022.
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