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Women in social sphere
Let us first consider the position of Pakistani women in the social sphere. The rich urban women are practically on a par with their men-folk. They go to social gatherings, cinemas, dancing-halls, concerts, exhibitions, and other interesting places with or without their husbands. There are no restrictions upon their movements. They drive cars, do their own shopping, go to horse races, stake and lose their husbands’ money, and drink. Even unmarried girls move about freely in the company of the young men of their choice. They flaunt themselves in public places and go about with almost offensive airs of sell- importance. In short, these rich women enjoy the maximum social freedom, But in striking contrast with this picture of feminine independence are the painful conditions under which poor women lead their existence. Their subservience to their overlords remains unaffected by the change around them. They are still the property of their husbands, mere chattels. They have to cook food, wash linen, sweep floors, clean utensils, look after the children, sew clothes, tend cattle, and so on. They continue to be household drudges.
Lack of Education
The backwardness of the majority of the women is due to lack of education as well as to their economic dependence upon men. No doubt, the rich families educate their daughters highly. Many educated girls get employment as school mistresses, typists, stenographers, receptionists, secretaries, bocking and reservation clerks, business executives. Many become nurses, doctors, professors. They are economically independent and therefore socially independent too. But the number of such women is only a small fraction of the total number of Pakistani women.
Women in Political Field
In he political field, one is struck by a similar contrast between the advanced and ue backward women. Some women have made a permanent mark on the political life of Pakistan by their distinguished contribution to struggle for uplift and am Pakistan. The names of Rana Liaquat Ali Khan, Begum Salma Tasiq Hussain, Jehan Ara Shah Nawaz, Benazir Bhutto will at once suggest themselves in this connection. They have proved their worth as ministers, social leaders, parliamentarians, and orators. There are hundreds of other women workers doing their bit in various political organizations. But the fact remains that the great majority of Pakistani women are completely ignorant of political developments in their country. Their chief concern is their house-hold work; they know almost nothing of the political and social trends in the country. They do not even understand their civic duties and political rights, and although they enjoy the right of voting in elections they exercise their vote without fully comprehending its value or consequences.
The percentage of women absorbed by industry and the services in the country is still very low. The range of employment, in which precepts of minimum wages, equal pay, and facilities for health-care prevail, is in reality very restricted. In respect of literacy, the disparity between the sexes continue to be high.
From a purely It gal point of view, the position of women is on the whole satisfactory. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equality before the law for all and prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex. It also allows the country to make special provisions for the protection and advancement of women. A series of Acts passed in the 1 950s brought about fundamental changes in Hindu law by which women were given succession rights on equal terms with men, the right to matrimonial relief, and so on But the personal laws of certain religions continue to discriminate against women with impunity.
A National Committee on Women was set up a few years ago to ensure a more effective implementation of the programs for the improvement of the status of women. The Equal Remuneration Act would be extended to more industries in a phased manner. Among other programs taken up for the benefit of women are non-formal education, functional literacy, craft education, and general education accompanied by vocational condensed courses.
Women, especially educated ones, have been invited by national leaders to participate in national programs such as small savings, adult literacy, and family planning in a big way.
The national plan of action for women has to be woven into the Five-Year Plan. It envisages various measures, legislative arid administrative, besides voluntary efforts, to promote the education, employment, and health-care of women. A common civil code, the setting up of family courts, the eradication of dowry and child-marriages are its main planks. Employment procedures for recruitment of more women teachers, encouraging part- time employment, relaxation in the age of entry into service are likely to be reviewed. A vigorous campaign for eradicating superstition which puts women at a disadvantage may also he started.
Several States have drawn up schemes for the growth of entrepreneurship amongst women, and Small Industries Service Institutes have been conducting training programs exclusively for women to encourage self- employment among them. Women played a significant role in the struggle for political freedom and they have now a part to play in the struggle for economic freedom. The new community of women entrepreneurs emerging today is still untouched by some of the evils of traditional business practices and is, therefore, in a position to bring about a new code of business ethics in which social responsibility would have a greater importance than the making of profits by all possible methods, fair and foul.
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