Our Correspondent
Okara
University of Okara Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar has said that the district-based universities have the potential to reduce gender gap and increase participation of women by providing them with opportunities of higher education. While talking to the media here on Friday, he referred to a survey report prepared by the World Economic Forum, which ranked Pakistan at 151th position among 153 countries on the Global Gender Parity Index. The survey, conducted at the University of Okara, revealed that there were about 75 per cent female students who, if not provided higher education facility at the district level, were unable to continue their education. Dr Zakar regretted that we, as a nation, have persistently failed to recognise the importance of gender equality and gender participation in social and economic development domains.