Day: May 17, 2022

Lahore, May 17, 2022 (PPI-OT):On March 8, the entire globe celebrates International Women’s Day to cherish the social, economic, and political achievements of women. It is indeed a worthy aspect to attract everyone’s attention. Women play crucial roles in society as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, aunties, friends, etc. Both women and men complement one another in the process of nation building.

Spiritually, men and women are obliged to fulfil similar rituals and Islam as a complete way of life accorded much respect and rights to women. The Messenger (Peace be upon him) also called upon the Muslim Ummah to fear Allah regarding the treatment of women. The Islamic civilization preserves the dignity and rights of women. They can own property, inherit the property of the diseased, have the right to determine the amount of dowry as a condition of marriage life, acquire education, have a right of consent to the choice of spouse, etc.

Despite the above stated spiritual, economic, and social underpinnings, women are still considered as a weaker sex in society. They are often denied basic rights such as education, property ownership, freedom to make choices for marriage life, segregated in the job market, raped, and are the most victims of domestic violence. Implausibly, many women have no access to the decision making platforms. And as a country, global reports indicate that Pakistan ranks second lowest as far as gender equality is concerned.

It is never too late. Certain things can be done to improve the current situation of women. Education plays a significant role in the empowerment of women. The education of women is said to have multiplier effects that permeate the entire society. Through education, women get to know about their rights and get elevated in terms of status as they continue to be placed in varied positions of responsibility. The education system generally and the sensitization seminars/workshops specifically also enlighten the entire society about the right of women.

It is proven beyond reasonable doubt that if women are accorded their rights, full support, and equal opportunities they can do wonders. Their contributions to society are not realized in isolation, they need male counterparts in a complementary arrangement. The completeness of society is only realized when both males and females are supporting one another.

Let’s join hands to boost the confidence of women, grant them equal opportunities in all spheres of life and involve them at all levels of the decision making processes. The empowerment of women makes the world a happy place to live in. Reese Witherspoon once said: “I encourage women to step up. Don’t wait for somebody to ask you”.

International Women’s Day: Highlighting the accomplishments of UOL’s resolute women

International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates the political, social, cultural, and economic achievements of women around the globe. The day is observed on 8 March every year to raise awareness about gender equality in all spheres of life. Women are the main curators of children and elders in every country of the world. International studies demonstrate that when the economy and political organization of a society change, women take the lead in helping the family adjust to new realities and challenges.

The University of Lahore (UOL) truly believes in Empowering Women and providing them equal opportunities to prove themselves. UOL is encouraging women to change the prevailing system and ideology in the world that can bring positive changes both to women’s lives and society.

The importance of education in empowering women can be conjectured by Napoleon Bonaparte’s saying in the 18th Century that “Give me an educated mother, I shall promise you the birth of a civilized, educated nation”, UOL has many Women Faculty members who are not less than a role model for the students. They are preparing the young generation with zest and zeal so that they can make a change in the world because UOL truly believes in equal rights, equal opportunities, and progress for all. Let’s have a sneak peek at some of the women with records worth sharing.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk

Lahore, May 17, 2022 (PPI-OT):Punjab is the heart of Pakistan adding up to 55 percent of the total economic output in the economy of the country. Women make up 48.63% of the total population, however, dismally their labour force participation is lesser than half of the male labour force participation rate in Punjab. According to the Labour Force Survey 2014-15 (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics), the gaps between male and female labour ratio are 54 percent in urban Punjab and 36 percent in rural Punjab.

In the interim, the Government of Punjab has created 25,000 jobs for women and increased allocation to the women’s development department from Rs. 855.846 million in FY 2016-17 to Rs.953.542 million for FY 2017-18. Rs.675 million was kept entirely for women’s development expenditures in FY 2017-18.

Despite the efforts of the Government of Punjab, the gender disparity index records 0.607 for rural and 0.483 for urban areas concerning the unemployment rates. The issue gets even worse when nearly 50 percent of women come under the sustenance level by earning equivalent or even lesser than Rs.5000 per month.

The World Bank defines poverty as those people who earn less than $2/ day. Owing to this definition, the minimum income must be Rs. 10,572 per month or else she will be regarded as poor. These fifty percent of women are among that population that hits World Bank’s poverty thresholds. The low wages of these women are due to the role of intermediates between the market and them.

The high-quality goods and services that these women provide are sold at ten times higher prices in markets. Nonetheless, due to low literacy among women, they are being exploited massively which makes them more vulnerable to shocks in markets. According to the recent report “Punjab Gender Disparity Report by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women”, nearly 0.48 percent of the total female workforce is highly qualified. On the same hand, the sheer ignorance of these women of competitive market prices outside their homes adds to their unanswered long-held hitches.

According to vision 2030, the Government of Punjab is determined to achieve the female labour force participation rate to at least 45%. Conversely, how much this goal is achievable is yet to be answered by time only.

It is important to mention here that the Government of Punjab alone cannot achieve these high targets of Gender equality without the devolution of power from federal levels to local/tehsils levels. The policies of the Government of Punjab will only be viable; provided the institutional structure is transformed. More importantly, the mindsets of people are changed. This is the time to recognize that women have equal abilities as men. They have undoubtedly equal access to the same quality of education, health facilities, and other facilities which are given to men by families and societies.

Women have the potential to be equal bread earners for the family and are in no way a burden on parents/society. The patriarchal mindsets of some ignorant men, which lie as the root cause of these huge gender disparities, need to be tackled by bringing changes through carefully designed nudges targeting the cultural changes. Mindful nudges such as media campaigns to treat women in equity to men, free education for females, and the extensive role of the Government in highlighting the success stories of women from backward areas are to be carried out extensively.

Moreover, Education can play a leading role here. The target of achieving 100% of literacy level on both male and female sides is the need of the hour to alter the orthodox mindset of many people. The rework of changing the old mindsets can bring significant changes such as making families realize that they can become financially better if women work along with their men and must not be kept just to the roles of household activities, childbearing and child upbringing activities.

Investing in human capital is the major determinant of inclusive and conducive natured economic growth. This cannot go alone by ignoring half of our society comprising of women. If the target is to make Punjab prosper, empowering women is the key to human capital growth. Providing incentives and disincentives in the shape of nudges to shape societies’ behaviour towards gender equality will surely help in the larger participation of women in economic activities.

The higher participation of the female labour force will assist not only in controlling the population bomb of Pakistan, but will also induce higher economic growth rates, higher investment rates, and higher social and financial returns to boost the economy of Punjab. Thus, gender equality is the major key to higher economic growth and serves as the urgent need to unlock the door of potential economic growth which will do wonders for not only the economy of Punjab but also of Pakistan in general. The author is an Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Lahore, Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk

Lahore, May 17, 2022 (PPI-OT):On February 4, 2022, Dr. Rabia Akhtar (Director, Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR)), participated in an online event organized by Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations to commemorate and acknowledge the sacrifices of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

The event was chaired by Amb. Munir Akram (Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations). In her remarks, Dr. Akhtar acknowledged how effectively the Government of Pakistan has highlighted the plight of the Kashmiris and the brazen aggression perpetrated by India. She argued that everyone must be worried about the dangerous sets of behaviour of an Indian leadership infused with ultra-religious nationalism. She added that India’s discomfiture with the status quo, coupled with the procurement of high-end defense articles and changes in its nuclear doctrine, and does not augur well for the future.

She said, “With all this in mind, Pakistan must be geared to face a new, different, and dangerous India”. Dr. Akthar also warned that India could, with the view of enhancing its risk-taking reputation, target Pakistan, even if it means trying its hands at nuclear coercion and compellence.

According to her, all this, coupled with support from Western powers, will incentivize India to continue with its Project Land=Grab in IIOJK. She also reminded viewers that India will take advantage of a propitious environment at the Sub conventional, to hurt Pakistan and cause strategic effects. She said, in keeping with all this, Pakistan must redefine its redlines and ensure that India does not get the impression it has first-strike and first-mover advantages. She ended her talk by stating that Pakistan must ramp up its lobbying and law fare campaigns against India while also ensuring that Kashmiris are brought to the forefront in all these efforts.

For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk