Women Empowerment in Pakistan

Women empowerment is empowering the women to take their own decisions for their personal dependent. Empowering women is to make them independent in all aspects from mind, thought, rights, decisions, etc by leaving all the social and family limitations. It is to bring equality in the society for both male and female in all areas. Women empowerment is very necessary to make the bright future of the family, society and country. Women need fresh and more capable environment so that they can take their own right decisions in every area whether for themselves, family, society or country. In order to make the country fully developed country, women empowerment is an essential tool to get the goal of development.

According to the latest statistics, the current female population in Pakistan is 49.2 % whereas women participation in labour force is only 28%. Clearly, this ratio is extremely low. Women empowerment can play marvellous role in the economic development of Pakistan and that’s not possible without women employment. Today’s women are educated, confident and willing to work. Just a slight motivation, support and resources can make them do wonders. It’s time to recognise that enhanced women participation in modern society is mandatory in order to ensure prosperous economy.

Gender equality is a basic human right and women empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality. It involves increasing a woman’s sense of self worth, give her decision making power, her access to opportunities/resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home, her ability to affect environment and her overall quality of life. The point to be noted is that no country has fully achieved gender equality till date.

Unfortunately, women in developing countries like Pakistan are suppressed and considered inferior in many regards. Conventional system hardly allows them to flourish and stand for their rights. Women empowerment calls for inevitable change in conventional system.The need of the hour is to provide women with harassment-free workplaces and business environment that supports and welcomes them to improve their wellbeing.

In developed societies, women are highly literate, hold executive positions, are well aware of their rights and thus they relish recognition, high social status and a luxurious life. Perhaps, in Pakistan only a small percentage of women have access to all these things. Undoubtedly, in past few years Pakistani government has taken rigorous steps to create opportunities for women but numbers of legal, social and regional factors tend to hinder Pakistani women employment in overall job market.

Recent researches demonstrate that workplace gender diversity helps businesses perform better and indicates that self interest and common interest can come together. For various reasons, Pakistan’s market and workplace isn’t that women friendly. However, ensuring the incorporation of women’s talents, skills and potential requires intentional actions, rational and deliberate policies across all sectors. Political and social support, high literacy rate, better infrastructure, access to resources, exposure to opportunities and sincerity of ruling class is must for ensuring women empowerment and consequently sustainable economic development in Pakistan.