By In recent years, Pakistan has made significant strides in advancing women’s rights through legal reforms, advocacy efforts, and the establishment of institutions aimed at gender equality. However, despite this progress, entrenched societal norms, cultural practices, and systemic barriers continue to impede the full realization of these rights.
This dichotomy presents a complex landscape – one in which legislative achievements coexist with ongoing struggles for equality, dignity, and safety. Women in Pakistan are caught between growing empowerment and persistent societal resistance, as legal frameworks clash with cultural practices. The journey toward gender equality, though underway, remains far from complete.
In Pakistan, women have historically faced a multitude of challenges stemming from deeply entrenched patriarchal norms. Among the most pressing of these are issues surrounding inheritance rights. Despite legal provisions that grant women their rightful share in family property, customary practices often override the law. Social and familial pressures prevent many women from claiming their inheritance, especially in cases where a widow remarries outside the family of her deceased husband. As a result, women frequently find themselves marginalized, economically dependent, and denied the legal rights that should empower them.
This is not a unique story in Pakistan; it reflects a broader struggle faced by women across the country.
Customary practices, particularly in rural areas, create barriers that are difficult to dismantle. Even though the laws are on paper, their enforcement remains a challenge.
A glaring issue is the lack of access to adequate healthcare facilities for women, particularly those who are victims of violence. Specialized services, such as burn units, remain few and far between. Women who have suffered acid attacks or other forms of violence often struggle to find proper treatment. Pakistan has a long way to go in ensuring that these survivors receive the care they need to rebuild their lives.
The violence inflicted on women is not limited to these horrific attacks. Domestic violence and honor killings continue to plague Pakistani society. Despite some advancements in legislation, such as the 2011 Domestic Violence Act, enforcement is patchy, and many victims have limited access to justice or support. Shelters and crisis centers are few, and those that exist often face resource constraints.
“Too many women are forced to endure unspeakable violence within their homes, where they should feel safest,” remarked an activist from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). She emphasized the critical need for more robust support systems that not only shelter women from abuse but also empower them to rebuild their lives.
Another significant challenge lies in the plight of home-based workers, many of whom are women. These workers contribute to various industries, from textiles to handicrafts, but they lack formal recognition and protection under labor laws. Women in this sector face exploitation, low wages, and poor working conditions. International standards, including those set by the International Labour Organization (ILO), emphasize the need to protect home-based workers, but Pakistan has been slow to align its labor legislation accordingly.
The 2010-2012 period saw some legislative breakthroughs, particularly in terms of criminalizing acid attacks, forced marriages, and workplace sexual harassment. Yet, for women working from their homes, the absence of legal safeguards leaves them vulnerable. Despite their significant economic contributions, home-based workers remain invisible to policymakers.
The progress made between 2010 and 2012 in Pakistan’s legal framework cannot be understated. During this time, the government introduced and passed several landmark laws aimed at protecting women’s rights. The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act (2010), the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act (2011), and the Domestic Violence Act (2011) marked important steps forward. These laws signified an acknowledgment by the state of the many forms of discrimination and violence faced by women.
Moreover, the establishment of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in 2012 provided a critical institution for monitoring and promoting women’s rights at the national level. The NCSW has played a pivotal role in advocating for gender equality and ensuring that women’s issues remain a priority in national policy discussions.
Yet, while these legislative changes reflect a commitment to gender equality on paper, the challenge remains in their implementation. Many women are unaware of the protections available to them, and even those who know often lack access to the resources and institutions that can help them seek justice.
One of the most significant legislative developments affecting women’s rights was the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which devolved many powers, including health and education, from the federal government to the provinces. While this move was hailed as a step toward greater autonomy and more localized governance, it has also led to disparities in how women’s rights are protected and promoted across the country. Some provinces have been slow to pass their own laws to protect women or to implement federal legislation, leaving gaps in the protection available to women, particularly in rural areas.
Political representation has been another battleground for women’s rights in Pakistan. Although women’s seats in Parliament and Provincial Assemblies have been reserved, many argue that these quotas need to be expanded.Recommendations for 33% reserved seats for women in both national and local government systems are seen as a step in the right direction, but they remain unimplemented.
Despite these challenges, Pakistani women are making strides in politics. Several women have risen to prominent leadership roles, advocating for reforms and pushing for greater gender equality. The increased visibility of women in politics is a testament to the resilience of the women’s rights movement in Pakistan.
While legal advances have laid the groundwork for change, the fight for women’s rights in Pakistan is far from over. Civil society organizations play a crucial role in this struggle, raising awareness and advocating for women’s rights at all levels. But as HRCP officials have pointed out, public awareness remains low, and media representation of women’s issues is often inadequate. There is an urgent need for media training and campaigns to shine a light on the violations women face daily.
Moreover, minority women, particularly Hindu girls, face additional challenges. Reports suggest that as many as 25 Hindu girls are abducted each month, an issue that highlights the intersection of gender and religious discrimination. The plight of minority women in Pakistan is an often-overlooked aspect of the broader women’s rights struggle.
The journey toward gender equality in Pakistan is one of significant progress tempered by ongoing challenges. The legislative framework exists, and institutions like the NCSW are critical in the fight for women’s rights. However, without stronger enforcement of laws, greater public awareness, and systemic reforms, many of the gains made over the past decade risk being undermined.
Pakistan’s women are far from passive observers of their circumstances; they are resilient, determined, and active agents of change. They continue to challenge the status quo, advocate for their rights, and shape a future where gender equality is not a distant hope, but a lived reality. While the journey is long, there is a growing belief that with continued effort and collective action, women in Pakistan will one day receive the rights and recognition they have long deserved—not in the distant future, but within our lifetime.
