4m girls out of school as gender divide persists

Sindh has taken its first province-wide measure of the gender divide - and the numbers paint a picture of progress alongside some stubborn gaps, with millions of girls still out of school and women remaining heavily underrepresented in the police and judiciary.

The province's first-ever gender equality report, released by the provincial government on Friday, records gains in maternal health, women's employment and political participation, but flags persistent disparities in literacy, school enrolment, economic opportunities, digital access and representation in decision-making.

Unveiling the report, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed all provincial departments to undertake targeted reforms based on its findings, strengthen gender-sensitive governance and improve women's and girls' access to education, healthcare, employment and public representation. The report was presented at the Chief Minister House by CM's Special Assistant on Human Rights Rajveer Singh Sodho.

Describing the report as a new policy tool for the province, CM Shah said its findings would help the government identify areas where progress had been made and those requiring urgent intervention, while guiding evidence-based planning, resource allocation and institutional reforms.

"Gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a fundamental requirement for sustainable development," CM Shah said, adding that the findings would help strengthen policies and programmes aimed at empowering women and girls.

According to the report, Sindh's population reached 55.69 million in 2023, growing at an annual rate of 2.57%. There were 108.76 men for every 100 women.

The health sector recorded progress, with the provincial health budget rising from Rs214.5 billion in 2023-24 to Rs267.54 billion in 2024-25 and estimated to reach Rs318.22 billion in 2025-26.

The maternal mortality ratio fell from 314 to 224 deaths per 100,000 live births, while the neonatal mortality rate stood at 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, the report said.

Education, however, remained a major challenge. The literacy rate stood at 68% for men and 47% for women, while female literacy in rural areas was only 27.52%. More than 4.08 million girls aged between five and 16 remain out of school, according to the report.

Women's representation in the justice and law-enforcement sectors also remained low. Women account for only 4.34% of the police force, 18.3% of prosecutors and 13.7% of judges.

The report recorded 3,085 reported cases of gender-based violence in 2024, underscoring the need for stronger protection mechanisms and improved access to justice.

The report also highlighted gains in political participation. The number of registered female voters has crossed 12 million, while the number of women contesting elections increased from 23 in 2018 to 53 in 2024.

Women's labour-force participation rose from 43.8% to 46.2%, while the number of employed women increased from 2.48 million to 3.32 million.

Despite the gains, the report identified barriers to women's full economic participation, including limited access to digital connectivity, financial inclusion, skills development, entrepreneurship and decent employment.