Breaking Barriers: Gender Equality in Pakistan - SDG 5 Challenges and Solutions

  Author Detail: Sheheryar Shahid Master's in Science Nursing Student at Aga Khan University with 7 years of experience in both clinical and teaching.

Gender equality remains a crucial issue on a global scale, with significant importance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan. Gender inequality still exists in Pakistani society despite advancements in several areas, including work, education, political representation, and healthcare access. In addition to being a question of justice and fairness, addressing these inequities is essential to reaching sustainable development objectives. Considering Sustainable Development Goal 5, it becomes abundantly clear that Pakistan requires significant efforts to address gender inequality to achieve its development objectives.

In Pakistan, gender inequality fills multiple spheres of life. Women continue to face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities and rights. A study found that female surgeons faced gender discrimination and bias in their medical careers, especially during residency. (Malik et al., 2021) female experiencing harassment from instructors, nursing staff, and fellow residents. Most believe discrimination hampers career growth, respect, and job satisfaction. (Ali et al., 2023) A multinational study found that female enrollment and literacy rates in Pakistan are about half that of Malaysia and Indonesia. There is still a persistent lack of funding for girls' education, despite the many non-economic benefits of a female education (Islam & Asadullah, 2018). Gender-based discrimination endures in many forms despite legislative efforts and constitutional protections. These include restricted educational opportunities, unequal pay, and cultural norms that uphold patriarchal systems. Moreover, women who live in rural regions frequently experience the worst effects of these inequities due to their limited mobility, lack of access to healthcare, and poverty. In addition, instances of honor killings, forced marriages, and domestic abuse are frighteningly frequent examples of gender-based violence.

In conclusion, Pakistan still has a long way to go before achieving gender equality. Although there has been improvement in many areas, there are still big obstacles to overcome. Accelerating efforts to eliminate gender inequities comprehensively is necessary. Government agencies, businesses, civil society organizations, private sector, and citizens must work together to accomplish this. We may lead Pakistan toward a more equitable and prosperous future by committing to Sustainable Development Goal 5, which emphasizes affirming equal opportunities, boosting women's empowerment, opposing discriminatory behaviors, and stimulating inclusivity.

References

Islam, K. M. M., & Asadullah, M. N. (2018). Gender stereotypes and education: A comparative content analysis of Malaysian, Indonesian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi school textbooks. PloS one, 13(1), e0190807

Malik, M.A. et al. (2021) ‘Workplace mistreatment and mental health in female surgeons in Pakistan’, BJS Open, 5(3). doi:10.1093/bjsopen/zrab041.

Ali, Y. et al. (2023) ‘Prevalence of workplace violence against female nurses at Tertiary Care Hospital Karachi, Pakistan’, Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences, pp. 296–300. doi:10.54393/pjhs.v4i06.881.