Daily Archives: May 2, 2024

Pakistan has successfully transited through the general election (GE-2024) process without any security issues despite heightened threat matrix, particularly in KP. Terrorists had threatened the peace and stability in the province days before election day. The Professionalism of Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies under the visionary leadership of COAS Gen Syed Asim Munir ensured safety of hundreds of millions of Pakistanis who came out to participate in their democratic right. Pakistan Army maintained complete vigilance across the country before polling day and quietly prevented many threats by preventing free movement of miscreants.

Effective border management by Pakistan Army and inter-agency coordination with sister forces made peaceful elections possible. It also exhibits a strong and courageous character of Pakistanis, as a nation, effectively rejected the narrative of hatred, divide and terror spread by  anti-state forces both from within and abroad.

Pakistan Army is considered the guardian of the motherland which ensures both internal and external security. Nonetheless, Pak Army goes beyond the line of duty in nation-building, along with its primary responsibility of ensuring security, to ease out lives of common Pakistanis. Recently, many such incidents came to the fore where the role of Pakistan Army as a social enabler was noticed.

Helping affected individuals and families of landmines, laid by terrorists, is one such example where Pakistan Army, in collaboration with (ex)FATA Displaced Welfare Organization (FDWO), has been actively involved in rehabilitation efforts of landmine victims. More than 1000 families are being catered for under this collaboration. In this connection, a ceremony was held in Peshawar where more than 50 individuals affected by landmines including 10 women were honored for their resilience and strength.

Corps Commander Peshawar Lt. Gen. Hasan Azhar Hayat was the chief guest at this event. He distributed financial aid in the form of cash and laptops to the victims, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the military and civil society in addressing the needs of those affected. Efforts and cooperation of Pakistan Army were highly praised and appreciated by the participants.

Apart from financial help, Pakistan Army is also helping FDWO to procure bionic arms and legs for landmine victims so that their quality of life can be improved. Pakistan Army medical corps specialists are providing training to victims to use these artificial arms and legs. Regular eye camps, medical camps and disaster relief programs in remote areas in KP and Baluchistan are also part of Pakistan Army’s efforts to serve the nation.

Art and culture play a key role in promoting the soft image and cultural prowess of the country. Here too, Pakistan Army, is making significant contributions to KP. Recently, Commander XI corps, has initiated multiple projects to preserve rich heritage of the Peshawar city and to promote local talent in arts and crafts. To this end, a project for rejuvenation to re-do historic Qisa Khawani Bazar has been initiated. Similar efforts of beautification and renovation work are being made in business hub known as ‘Saddar bazaar’ and Peshawar cantonment. This work started in November 2023.

“The city where there was an atmosphere of bomb blast and fear a few years ago, now there is prosperity and development will take place without any hindrance.” These were the remarks of Commander XI Corps when he initiated this beautification drive.

Pakistan Army is well aware of the tourism potential of KP and is also cognizant of the need for revival of communication facilities in the province to boost tourism industry. To contribute to provincial toruism, Pakistan Army, in collaboration with Pakistan Railways and Frontier Corps North, has initiated a plan to revive the historic Mardan – Takht Bhai Railway track to exploit tourism potential of Takht Bhai. A similar plan is under consideration for Peshawar – Landi Kotal portion as well. Much-needed railway connectivity to these historical sites will surely attract domestic as well as international tourists to KP.

The biggest outcome of Pakistan Army’s continued efforts in KP and NMDs has emerged in growing national cohesion across all factions of society. Despite heated debates, the peaceful process of election is a pleasant reminder of how Pakistan sets itself apart from India by refusing to support extremist groups. The Pakistani electorates have rejected radical religious & ethnic groups, demonstrating that such polarizing narratives are irrelevant in the nation’s democratic environment. Ethnic nationalist, religious cards no more work. This is going to have a lasting positive impact on national unity and it all began with Pakistan Army’s efforts to confront all anti-state and anti-society elements two decades ago who remain ever ready, always vigilant and committed to go the extra mile in service of the nation. The efforts of Pakistan Army in KP and NDMs towards peace and stability, nation-building and socioeconomic uplifting must be highlighted with gratitude as these efforts have become textbook examples for countries.

LAILA SADAF

The famous quote “Women hold up half the sky”, attributed to Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong, underscores the crucial role of women in the development of a state. International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8th March to revisit the achievements of women as an equal member of society and to highlight the longstanding struggles of women to achieve equal rights. It is a day for women to ask for concrete solutions to their socio-economic, political and personal rights through rallies and conventions.

The origin of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century when women’s movements started gaining momentum, initiated from the West. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, to commemorate the garment workers’ strike in New York City. The following year, Socialist International convened Women’s Day to promote women’s suffrage and recognition of women’s contributions in all spheres.

In Pakistan, the annual conference of the newly formed Fem Consortia comprising 12 women’s rights organizations and five alliances from across the country was held, reflecting upon topics like women in politics, adolescent girls, working women and climate change and women. It was acknowledged in the conference that a lot of progress has been made in the status and empowerment of women in the light of increased participation of women in politics and other areas of professional life. Other glimmering areas of progress in Pakistan concerning Gender Equality include education, economic participation and political representation for both males and females.

Although the gap persists, female enrolment in primary education has climbed to 97%, exceeding the national target. This surge signifies a crucial step towards empowering future generations ultimately. Economic participation is yet another area of interest. Though the female labour force participation rate remains low at 22%, initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme have supported women’s economic agency, empowering them to break free from the shackles of poverty. Yet many hurdles continue to obstruct the way forward.

Lack of facilities and ignorance in health care have resulted in an increase in infant and mother mortality rates. The situation in rural areas, particularly in Sindh, KP and Balochistan is worrisome. It’s also true that women in Pakistan face multiple forms of violence, including domestic violence, honour killings, acid attacks, sexual harassment, and forced marriages. Domestic violence is rampant in all forms of violence against women in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 32 per cent of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence at the hands of their husbands. This violence includes beatings, burning, and even murder. Honour killings and acid attacks have also been increasingly high.

The fact is that, despite various feminist movements and rallies, a large chunk of women still lack access to basic rights because most women’s conferences are not entirely inclusive in regards to participation and discussion of issues about womenof an underprivileged class. The problems of the poor are not the problems of the rich and the privileged ones, therefore, the real points at issue go unaddressed, and hence unresolved. It also reflects upon the women’s grim life as a Pakistani national, where social and economic equality is concertedly ignored by the stakeholders and women’s rights activists. The women who really need to be heard are not given much-needed awareness and opportunities to be part of such gatherings.

Unequal opportunities for women in Pakistan may also be credited to barriers such as insufficient access to skill development, an underprivileged female education system and a lack of dedicated transportation and childcare facilities. Together, these hurdles continue to restrict female economic as well as political participation, thus, hampering their involvement in national growth. In addition, the wage gap between males and females, discrimination at the workplace and incidence of violence targeting females are entrenched in the social and cultural structure of society. In Pakistan, women receive 34% less wages as compared to their male counterparts for similar work, resulting in a pervasive inequality that asks for remedial policy frameworks and vigorous enforcement mechanisms for the same policies.

Nurturing social awareness among women of their socio-economic and political rights, formulation and enforcement of stringent laws and provision of elaborate and easily accessible support mechanisms along with social and religious taboos barring gender discrimination are indispensable to combat this menace. Navigating the path forward involves prioritising girls’ education, creating conducive environments, promoting equal pay and fair treatment at the workplace, combating violence and fostering equality and a legislative framework supported by an effective enforcement mechanism.