IT was quite shocking to see Pakistan as the second worst country in the world for gender inequality, leading only Nepal which is at rank 144.

According to the World Economic Forum’s global gender gap report 2016, Pakistan was ranked 143 out of 144 countries. The gender gap index has continued to worsen from 112th rank in 2006. That report was based on four main areas, including educational attainment, health and survival, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

Women are lagging behind in all these areas. All or most girls in rural areas are deprived of even primary education.Women also lack conducive working conditions, thus reducing the ratio of women labour in the market. However, health and survival has improved by just one rank from 125th to 124th.

I regret to say that three out of five provinces have just one woman minister in their cabinet, whereas Balochistan has none.

Sometimes, I fail to understand why women are discriminated and underestimated, even if they can prove their potential. We all women, men and elderly) need to work hand-in-hand to defend our country from external and internal threats.

I would urge the government to provide equal rights and opportunities to women in every field.

Younis Jabbar Soomro

Islamabad

Published in Dawn December 4th, 2016