Each year on 8th March, International Women’s Day is observed across the world to pay homage to the fairer sex which is still a marginalised section of society.
The basic purpose of this day is to acknowledge the contribution of women in building society. In our society, due to various restrictions and dated traditions, the contribution of women is limited to household activities and not even acknowledged. Although the patriarchal society has assigned unpaid and reproductive work to women and kept productive or income generating work in the hands of male members, but women have still contributed a lot despite that and their contribution is largely unacknowledged. In our society, women are still discouraged from joining the work force formally, though the situation has been changed to some extent for the better.
An analysis of developed economies clearly shows that engaging women in the economic sector is a path towards development.
Therefore, it can be surely said that if women, who constitute half of the population of Pakistan, are engaged in productive work, then situation of Pakistan can be changed. It is the dire need of hour to empower women as not only will it lead to their emancipation but it will also directly alleviate poverty and bring prosperity in our country. Through eliminating the discrimination against women and empowering them, we can develop our country and attain the goal of development.
This empowerment will also fulfil the millennium development goals (MDGs) of Pakistan, at present, which seem difficult to be achieved. It is necessary that policy makers must further devise policies cognisant of the gender imbalance in society.
INAYAT ALI GOPANG
Islamabad
