IT was extremely flabbergasting to see Pakistan as the second-worst country in the world for gender inequality. The report was based on four main areas, including education and health.

According to the World Economic Forum’s worldwide gender gap report of 2016, Pakistan ranked 143 out of 144 countries.The gender gap index worsened from 112th in 2006. Girls are being deprived of their rights, as a result of which the country is regressing from year to year.

Furthermore, in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan girls are deprived of their rights to fulfil the desires of their lives.

It is a pity that in Sindh girls of school-going age labour in fields while women are deprived of governmental jobs.

It is the duty of parents to facilitate and educate their children, whether male or female, for a bright future.

Also, the constitution of Pakistan states in Article 25A that free education should be provided to all children from five to 16 and Articles 25 and 26 clealry mention protection of children’s and women’s rights.

The government must ensure that there is gender equality for all in Pakistan and also that children and women are provided their rights, including education.

Saleh Muhammad
Turbat

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017