Women

A recent IMF study using empirical data and research statistics

“determines that women’s economic empowerment is key to growth”
and could boost Pakistan’s GDP by 30%.
Pakistan’s Constitution, as per Article 25 (2), is emphatic about
giving equal rights to women.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report (2017), Pakistan ranks 136th on the
attainment of education index, 140th on health and survival and 95th on the
political empowerment of women, out of the 144 countries assessed in the
report. Pakistan scored 0.546 overall on a scale wherein a score of 1.0 represents
parity and 0 represents imparity. The country’s female/male population ratio was
recorded at 1.06. The index denotes the country’s widening gender gap over the
decade, as it ranked 112 out of 115 in the year 2006. In the 2017 index, Pakistan
only beats Yemen, whereas, interestingly, war-torn Syria is ahead of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s constitution has defined protection against gender-based violence as
one of the fundamental rights in Article 25(2). Article 26(2) of the constitution
provides for affirmative action or positive discrimination to ensure that women
have equal access to opportunities that they are otherwise denied in a male-
dominated society.
this means unleashing the transformative potential of 50 percent of the country’s
population, who will play a critical role in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s women development model is very much a work in progress where deep-rooted
challenges remain. The World Economic Forum has placed Pakistan as the second worst country on
gender equality in its 2017 Global Gender Gap Index. The index placed Pakistan 143rd out of 144
countries, worst in the South Asian region. Bangladesh, ranked at 47, is the only country in the region
to have made the top 50 whereas India is at 108 after dropping 21 notches compared to its previous
position. The Maldives ranked 106, Sri Lanka 109, Nepal 111 and Bhutan 143.

Women are contributing to Pakistan’s economy in many ways. One of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) studies determines that women’s economic empowerment is key to growth and could
boost Pakistan’s GDP by 30 percent.

Globally, women produce 50 percent of food and provide 43 percent of agriculture labor. In the
Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, for example, women perform half the labor in rice production.
This goes up to 80 percent in India and Bangladesh. In Pakistan, 72 percent of working women are
involved in agricultural activities. Most of the Pakistani working women lack the managerial skills as
they do not gain adequate knowledge in handling aspects of planning, organizing and coordinating
their small business efficiently. Working women, especially in rural areas of Pakistan are less aware
of the technological aspects of handling a business that serves as a major setback in running a
successful business.

Women’s visibility is not important just for cosmetic reasons, or to fulfil a

‘feminist agenda’ and please ‘Western’ interests. When women are included
in powerful positions and decision-making, they represent the interests of
50 per cent of Pakistan’s population.
The Prime Minister said the Constitution of Pakistan supported the
equal status of women, adding, “Article 18 of the Constitution
provides equal space to women in every lawful profession, while
Article 25 lays down the principles of non-discrimination and
affirmative action in their case.”
“It is a national obligation to provide for the participation of women
at every level to make them valuable and productive members of
society,” he said in his message on the occasion of International
Women’s Day observed every year on March 8
women of Pakistan have accomplished great successes in the field
of entrepreneurship, IT, science & technology, education, film-
making, politics and have held high positions in government and
also in various international organizations.
Allah SWT said in Quran: O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made
you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of
Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware. Women played vital role in every
sphere of life side by side with men, in the progress of Muslim world.
Empowering women is a great responsibility. It is necessary for gender equality. A society is
better when women are not taken for granted and are given equal respect. In the olden days,
women were confined to the home and were not allowed to step out of the house for work.
Household chores were their only area of work. But today’s society has seen a lot of changes.
This generation values women and trusts with amazing responsibility. Women are given equal
potential at work and are allows to stand among and sometimes ahead of men in many fields.
Today, women have started realizing their strengths and abilities are ready to step out of their
home, contributing to the success of their home and the entire society. They are indeed making
the world turn heads towards them. Before it was not possible and now it is possible and they
are doing it today. You can see women reaching greater heights and even travelling to space.
They are entering into all fields and are making success everywhere they go.

Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.