ALTHOUGH patriarchal society has assigned unpaid and reproductive work to women and kept productive or income-generating work in the hands of male members, women’s contribution goes unnoticed. In our society women are still discouraged from joining productive work.

An analysis of developed nations shows that engaging women in the economic sector is a path towards development. Therefore, it can be surely said that if women, who are more than half the population of Pakistan, are engaged in productive work, the situation of Pakistan can be changed.

It is a dire need to empower women to help alleviate poverty in our country. This empowerment will also fulfil the millennium development goals of Pakistan.

INAYAT ALI GOPANG Islamabad