No, Pakistan does not have gender equality.
The Stark Reality of Gender Inequality in Pakistan
Pakistan consistently ranks poorly on global gender equality indices. According to the World Economic Forum's 2022 Global Gender Gap Index, Pakistan placed 145th out of 146 countries. The 2022 Human Development Report's Gender Inequality Index further reinforces this, placing Pakistan at 161st out of 191 countries. These rankings highlight a significant and pervasive gap in gender equality across various aspects of Pakistani society.
Areas Requiring Urgent Attention:
- Economic Participation and Opportunity: Women face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in the workforce, including limited access to education and training, discriminatory employment practices, and societal expectations.
- Educational Attainment: While progress has been made, girls and women still lag behind boys and men in educational attainment, limiting their future opportunities.
- Political Empowerment: Women's representation in political decision-making roles remains low, hindering their ability to influence policies and laws affecting their lives.
- Health and Survival: Gender disparities in health outcomes persist, with women facing higher risks of maternal mortality and limited access to healthcare services.
The consistently low rankings demand immediate attention to the underlying factors contributing to this persistent gender inequality. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive and sustained efforts across various sectors of Pakistani society.
