Every year in Pakistan, many international days are celebrated including Women’s Day on March 8^th indicating to the rest of the world that the respective gender stands for something. On this day some of the women take pride in their achievements and in the progress they have made towards being recognized as equal human beings. Now here is the biggest joke when it comes to equal treatment in Pakistan!

In Pakistan, when you walk on the streets and stare at those empty numb looks, it feels somewhat that everyone is satisfied that equality issues such as gender equality, rich & poor equality, the treatment of right and wrong by concerning authorities, etc are being addressed sincerely by the so-called government and saviors of society. But how far in actual has the equality issue been addressed? Are we doing enough to improve the status of the weak? Many so-called laws have been passed in Pakistan to improve the conditions of the respective gender or societies including access to rights and freedoms. Few protection measures have also been introduced include social protection for women under the support programs. All these half-hearted steps by the governments did bring slight relief for the women and the poor.

Similarly, women’s participation in the workforce stands at an abysmal rate. Addressing barriers to change requires measures on a war footing. For changing the harsh, controlling mindset against inequality, the state should introduce measures, beginning with addressing the issue of women’s equality; implement mechanisms for capacity-building of judges, prosecutors, police officers, medical personnel and other officials for strict application of legal provisions on gender-based violence and mistreatment of the poor. Few citizens of this country ever say they want a Pakistan where everyone should have access to justice and adequate nutrition, clean drinking water, enough food for their families, quality education and healthcare.

Income, education, and religious choice are another issue that requires immediate intervention by the state. Equal opportunities are not provided to the deserving members of this society and this is a harsh reality whereby people are breathing in such pain and misery. I wish I had better words to describe the situation in my beloved country Pakistan but it has remained a victim to the powerful and selfish.

Implementation of strict reforms would tackle inequality issues. It is already late whereby the same should have been addressed back in the mid-1900s when the society was evolving. Now, much of the race has been lost but still Pakistan should consider taking some position.

I can well imagine how the rich and the powerful react when they face an issue of inequality and how they flex their muscles to destroy the honest or deserving person. This is the sad reality in this society and the state is still much busy running after saving their own skins by playing around with words to the public.

Maybe I might not be lucky enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I still wake up every day with a hope that the oppressed and the poor will rise.

Versuasion Pakistan – Fareeha Robert