PRESIDENT Arif Alvi always speaks eloquently and forcefully on social issues especially when it comes to the rights of women. Over the last two years, one has seen him running a robust campaign on breast cancer as well as highlighting the issue of malnutrition.
Addressing a brainstorming session on Gender Based Discrepancies on Wednesday, the President called for women empowerment through inclusive social and economic policies. Pakistan cannot unleash its true potential by ignoring almost half of its population – the women. If the country has to flex its muscle economically, then its men and women have to work side by side. Over the years, one has seen women joining different fields in big numbers after getting education but still there are a lot of barriers, especially the one of conservatism that needs to be removed in order to tap their full potential and bring them into the national mainstream. To achieve this, firstly we will have to bring a change in the patriarchal mindset through greater awareness. It must be clarified that empowering women does not imply disempowering men. For a woman to be economically independent and socially active, her self-esteem and confidence need to be raised first, then she needs to be sensitized to her status in the society and its implications for herself and those around her; only then can she rise to achieve the physical scales of empowerment.
At the government level, it must be ensured that the laws enacted for their empowerment and protection are also fully implemented. Then the issue of women’s financial inclusion is not related to a single ministry or department only. It requires a holistic approach to economically empower women across the country. We will suggest that the women be given special importance in the Small and Medium enterprises. Apart from imparting technical education and providing interest free loans to them, special quotas must be announced for them in the industrial estates. Women Commerce Chambers also need to be strengthened so that they could play a productive role in women participation in different businesses. A safe and enabling environment is essential for effective female participation in the economic domain. Having more women in decision making positions will also help in strengthening the process of empowerment.
