2024-09-08 05:25:11
Gloved and helmeted on her roaring motorbike in the megalopolis of <a href="https://www.archyde.com/pakistans-best-performance-in-2021-india-beat-india-in-world-cup-babur-assam-babar-azam/" title="Pakistan's best performance in 2021: India beat India in World Cup: Babur Assam | Babar Azam”>Karachi, Amina Sohail attracts attention: in Pakistan, with the economic crisis, more and more women are entering the job market.
With her motorcycle taxi covered in camouflage fabric, this 28-year-old Pakistani is the first woman in her family to work.
Before, when her father had to stop working because he fell ill, “we were hungry,” she says. “The atmosphere at home was distressing,” she recalls, for the family who had to seek help from relatives.
“That’s when I told myself I had to work,” she continues. And since then, “we’ve been able to eat two to three meals a day.”
A challenge in Pakistan in the midst of political chaos, where the economy is surviving on life support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and loans from friendly countries.
Inflation, which recently reached record levels, has officially increased the price of food products by 100% and electricity and gas bills by 300% in one year.
By joining the workforce, Ms. Sohail has changed her income but also, she says, her “point of view.” “My worldview has broadened,” she says.
– “Marie her” –
According to the UN, only 21% of Pakistani women work – most in the informal sector and half helping their families in the fields.
But the gap remains wide between symbols and reality on the ground: in 1988, Pakistan became the first Muslim country in the modern era to be led by a woman.
Today, Pakistani women entrepreneurs are regularly named in Forbes lists of the most influential people, and the army and police have several high-ranking women entrepreneurs.
But in many homes, conservatism still reigns.
“I am the first woman in my family to work, on both my father’s and mother’s side,” proudly emphasizes Hina Saleem, 24, a switchboard operator in a leather goods factory in Karachi, the industrial hub of Pakistan.
But while her mother supported her after her father’s death, members of the extended family tried to discourage her younger brother.
Anum Shahzadi, 19, who works in the same factory, was encouraged to work by her parents after high school.
“Why graduate if you can’t be independent,” says the woman who now provides the household income alongside her brother.
Bushra Khaliq of the NGO Women In Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) sees “a turning point” in the political and economic rights of women in Pakistan, mainly in the urban middle class. And an “opportunity” in the current economic crisis.
– “We are partners” –
While Anum Shahzadi started working at 19, Farzana Augustine received her first salary last year at 43 when her husband lost his job due to Covid-19.
“My wife had to take over,” says the latter, Augustine Saddique. “There’s nothing sad about it: we’re partners and we maintain this home together,” says the 45-year-old Christian.
Their children, on the other hand, “don’t tell anyone that their mother works, they don’t like it,” explains Farzana Augustine.
Karachi – officially home to 20 million people, though probably more in reality – its port and vast industrial zone attract migrants and entrepreneurs from all over the country in the hope that a job will help them move up the social ladder.
Zahra Afzal, 19, moved in with her uncle four years ago.
Her parents had just died and she left their village in the agricultural heartland of Pakistan to care for children in Karachi families.
“If other members of the family had taken Zahra in, she would already be married,” her uncle Kamran Aziz assures us, not a little proudly.
He, on the contrary, “decided with (his) wife to go against the grain and raise (their) daughters so that they learn to fend for themselves before getting married.”
Zahra Afzal, for her part, is proud of one thing. Today, her sister and cousin consider her a role model.
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Table of Contents
Empowered Women in Pakistan: Breaking Barriers in the Face of Economic Crisis
In the midst of Pakistan’s economic crisis, where inflation has reached record levels and the economy is surviving on life support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and loans from friendly countries, a new trend is emerging: more and more women are entering the job market. This shift is not only changing the economic landscape but also empowering women and broadening their worldview.
Amina Sohail, a 28-year-old Pakistani, is a prime example of this trend. She is the first woman in her family to work, and her decision to join the workforce has changed her life. With her motorcycle taxi covered in camouflage fabric, she roars through the streets of Karachi, the industrial hub of Pakistan. ”That’s when I told myself I had to work,” she says. “We’ve been able to eat two to three meals a day since then.”
According to the UN, only 21% of Pakistani women work, mostly in the informal sector and helping their families in the fields [[1]]. However, this number is increasing, and women like Hina Saleem, a 24-year-old switchboard operator in a leather goods factory, are leading the way. “I am the first woman in my family to work, on both my father’s and mother’s side,” she proudly emphasizes.
The gap between symbols and reality on
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Women Ride Pakistan’s Economic Crisis into the Workforce
In the midst of Pakistan’s economic crisis, a growing number of women are entering the job market, defying traditional norms and conservative attitudes. This shift is largely driven by the country’s economic struggles, with many families relying on women’s income to make ends meet.
Amina Sohail, a 28-year-old Pakistani, is one such example. She is the first woman in her family to work, and her decision to join the workforce has been life-changing. After her father fell ill and was unable to work, Amina took matters into her own hands, stating, “That’s when I told myself I had to work.” Today, she operates a motorcycle taxi in Karachi, earning a steady income that has improved her family’s living conditions.
Amina’s story is not an isolated one. Many women in Pakistan are now entering the workforce, driven by the country’s economic crisis. According to the UN, only 21% of Pakistani women work, with most employed in the informal sector and half helping their families in the fields [[4]]. However, this number is expected to rise as more women like Amina take control of their economic futures.
Despite the challenges, Pakistani women are making progress. The country became the first Muslim country in the modern era to be led by a woman in 1988 [[4]]. Today, Pakistani women entrepreneurs are regularly named in Forbes lists of the most influential people, and the army and police have several high-ranking women entrepreneurs.
However, the gap between symbols and reality on the ground remains wide. Conservative attitudes still prevail in many homes, where women are discouraged from working or pursuing careers. Hina Saleem, a 24-year-old switchboard operator, is an example of this. Despite her mother’s support, her extended family tried to discourage her younger brother from working [[4]].
Anum Shahzadi, 19, who works in the same factory as Hina, was encouraged by her parents to work after high school. Her story highlights the changing attitudes towards women’s employment, particularly in urban households.
The economic crisis in Pakistan has pushed many families to the brink, with inflation reaching record levels and prices of food products increasing by 100% and electricity and gas bills by 300% in one year [[4]]. In this context, women’s employment is not just a matter of personal empowerment but also a necessity for economic survival.
the economic crisis in Pakistan has led to a shift in attitudes towards women’s employment, with more women entering the workforce. While conservative attitudes still prevail, the growing number of women like Amina, Hina, and Anum is a testament to the changing times. As Amina Sohail so eloquently puts it, “My worldview has broadened” since joining the workforce. Her story, and those of many other Pakistani women, is a beacon of hope for a brighter economic future.
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