Don’t be fooled by the glamorised depictions of female models adorning billboards all over town. The harsh reality is that the social conditions in this land continue to be skewed against the fairer sex. From education to employment, health services to political representation, the gender gap is significant and persistent across the spectrum of development indicators.

The accompanying table highlights that the unfair treatment of women begins at an early age. Perhaps the most startling disparity albeit not as pronounced as in other areas; is the lower proportion of fully immunised female children.

Official data shows that countrymen are not very keen to enrol their daughters in school and even less motivated to have them complete at least their primary education. A recent report jointly produced by the Government of Sindh and the UNDP laments that this disparity worsens in the case of secondary and higher education.

Gender disparities are more glaring in rural areas where cultural norms are amassed against women leaving the confines of their homes. Among the recent manifestations of such oppressive norms was the exclusion of the women of Lower Dir from voting in the 2013 General Elections. In that episode, the candidates of all major political parties, in connivance with local tribal leaders signed a pact barring women from exercising their political right.

On the other hand, there are many efforts afoot to improve the social conditions of women in the country. During its tenure, the PPP-led government distributed agricultural land and tractors among women.

“Even when these assets are not being utilised by the women themselves, just having the assets under their names help strengthen their standing within the family structure,” former finance minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah told BR Research. Following the same logic, the government also allocated precedence to women in the Benazir Income Support Programme.

But the lack of significant progress in terms of bridging the gender gap in access to education, healthcare and employment as well as other social indicators continues to persist. Clearly, piecemeal efforts are not enough to break through the mould of deep-rooted cultural norms that perpetuate the unfair treatment of women.

To challenge that mindset, a strong and clear vision must be articulated by the political leadership. Though such efforts may face resistance from vested interests, the rewards to be reaped from improving the social and living standards of women in the country would be reaped in the form of a healthier, more productive youth in years to come.

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Indicator                  Pakistan      Male    Female


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Literacy Rate                    58        69        46


Net Primary Enrolment            56        60        53


Primary Completion Rate          49        59        39


Fully Immunised Children (       81        82        79


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