In Pakistan, women find their place between reverence and repression. They are hailed as the “light of the home,” yet denied the right to decide how that light should shine. The problem is not only one of inequality but of perception, a culture that glorifies womanhood in poetry and crushes it in practice.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024, the World Economic Forum ranks Pakistan 145 out of 146 countries, indicating huge inequalities in education, health, political participation, and economic inclusion. UNICEF reports that nearly 47% of girls drop out before completing primary education due to early marriages, poverty, and societal restrictions. These numbers show a stark reality-that half of Pakistan’s population remains systematically excluded from opportunity.

But behind every number lies a silenced........

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