One step ahead, two steps back…

Our country is in a stagnance and decline…Even though the achievements made by our country are remarkable and spectacular, but the problems faced by it’s citizens are comparatively high.          

  Let’s consider women. Where are they? Many are mounting to great heights. They are beginning their own societies, organizations and industries. 40-50% of small and medium enterprises are owned by women. They excel in almost all the fields; the livestock sector cannot prosper without women’s participation. Ismat Chagtai was part of the Progressive Writers Association and was considered a very feminist writer. Rahila Narejo is an author, columnist, a human resource consultant and a CEO NHR. Sophia Hasnain is a technology analyst. Nafis Sadik was the first and one of the highest ranking women in UN to serve as an executive head of UN’s major voluntary funding programs, after which she worked as a civilian doctor in the military hospitals of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was the most important personality as she became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and brought about a change in the country for its well-being.

  But they still don’t have the same privileges as men do. A greater proportion of women are not subjected to even a bit of honor, especially in rural areas where honor killing has taken its toll. Family members themselves take the lives of their wives, sisters and daughters and no action was taken against them. A law was passed on this cruelty but it wasn’t of much importance because the family members themselves were culprits so they did not involve the police if they did, they closed the case as quickly as possible.

  Women in Pakistan are trapped in a web of dependency and subordination due to their low social, political and economic status in the society.

  An 18-year-old girl, Irum Saeed was burned in the face by acid by a boy whom she rejected for marriage. Similar cases happened with teenagers namely Kanwal Kayyum and Munira Asef.

  Najaf Sultana was burned by acid by her father at the age of five as he did not want another girl in the family. In a recent case, three teenagers were buried alive, two women were shot dead because they apparently helped the girls who chose their own grooms.     

   The literacy rate of women is generally stated as 24% as compared to 49% of men. Their need is apparent in many economic activities but their welfare is not taken into consideration, their contributions are always under reported which is partly the reason our country is still in the stage of development…