Latest news with #Copyright
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Wage employment, entrepreneurship: Pakistan faces significant gender gaps: World Bank
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan faces significant gender gaps in wage employment, entrepreneurship, and access to productive assets, with an estimated 47 million women are not in the labor force, and around 55 million unbanked, says the World Bank. The bank in its report, 'Women's Economic Empowerment in Pakistan: An Evidence Guided Toolkit for More Inclusive Policies,' stated that Pakistan faces a plethora of economic, human capital, political, and climate-related challenges. The role of women in addressing these challenges is crucial to Pakistan meeting its full potential for inclusive growth and competitiveness. Economy's growth model needs urgent overhaul: World Bank An estimated 47 million women are not in the labour force, and there are 55 million unbanked women. The gender gap in earnings in Pakistan stands at 18 percent. Employed women earn less than their men counterparts. This means that, for every Rs1,000 earned by an employed man, an employed woman earns Rs818. The gender gap in earnings has remained stable over the years, from around 40 percent in 1999 to 39 percent in 2017. However, recent data indicate there has been a significant narrowing of the gap, to 18 percent. This large reduction is driven by an increase in earnings among women and a dip in men's earnings. Improving gender equality in the economy and society thus appears to be a necessary path to addressing many of the country's development problems, such as the country's stagnating per capita income, human capitalcrisis, and the recent worrisome increase in poverty. Pakistani women need more visibility and autonomy in all spheres of the economy and society. Their legal rights lag those of their peers in other South Asian countries and are lower than the global average. The report noted that women in Pakistan face significant barriers to entry in the labour force, securing fair, higher wages, physically accessing markets to develop their businesses, accessing financial services, owning productive assets, especially land and other property, having an equal say over important day-to-day decisions, and living lives free of gender-based violence. Overcoming these and other like barriers requires solutions that go beyond one size fits all and, instead, focus on addressing problems by putting women and girls at the forefront of policy design. Women in Pakistan also contend with critical issues related to safety, mobility, agency, and restrictive social norms. The report provides an in-depth analysis of these disparities and introduces an evidence-based policy toolkit that prioritises actionable solutions drawn from global and regional evidence while highlighting areas that require further research. Utilising extensive micro data from national and regional surveys, it offers a comprehensive 20-year review of trends and insights into women's work and empowerment across multiple indicators, paving the way for targeted, data-driven policy interventions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
‘Sarah Adam lifts the veil on India-TTP nexus to kill Kashmiris
This is apropos a letter to the Editor from this writer carried by the newspaper yesterday. Despite efforts in the US Congress to introduce accountability measures — such as the stalled Protecting Death Act — no meaningful action has been taken to plug these financial leaks. Sarah Adam calls this a case of strategic blindness, warning that Western aid is unintentionally funding the next regional war. Adam describes India's strategy as a classic case of short-term gain, long-term catastrophe. By weaponizing the Taliban against Pakistani interests, India may have scored a few tactical wins, but it is also creating a monster it cannot control. The second-tier Kashmiri leadership now being cultivated is deeply radical, bound not by nationalism but by jihadist ideology. And while Pakistan may be the immediate target, India will not be immune to their long-term plans. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda-aligned fighters, once fully entrenched, will have no qualms about shifting their attention toward India—particularly in Kashmir. Their transnational agenda doesn't distinguish between India and Pakistan; both are seen as secular enemies obstructing their vision of Islamic rule. One of the most alarming outcomes Sarah Adam highlights is the increased risk of accidental war. Given the current volatility in India-Pakistan relations, even a small, third-party terrorist strike could ignite a massive military confrontation. With both states on hair-trigger alert, a misattributed attack could spiral into a catastrophic war—not between nations by intent, but orchestrated by extremist groups for mutual destruction. Adam calls this scenario 'killing two birds with one stone,' where radical groups manipulate mistrust between India and Pakistan to fuel regional chaos and ideological expansion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Youm-e-Takbeer celebrated with zeal
LAHORE: 'Youm-e-Takbeer' was marked in commemoration of nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan 28th May, 1998 with zeal on Wednesday amid renewed pledge to render any type of sacrifice for the defence of the motherland. On this day, Pakistan became the seventh nuclear power of the world and the first Muslim state having the nuclear arsenal in its defence stockpile. These tests demonstrated the resolve of the nation to safeguard Pakistan's territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty. To mark the day, seminars, rallies and other ceremonies were held in different parts of the country. Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore today, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik said the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif made Pakistan invincible by conducting nuclear tests. The PML-N Lahore president Saif ul Malook Khokhar MNA termed the 28th May as a symbol of nation's unwavering determination, courage and spirit of defending homeland. Rallies were also taken out in different parts of the country. Punjab Information Minister, Azma Bokhari stated that May 28 is a golden and unforgettable day in Pakistan's history, symbolizing national pride and sovereignty. She said that on May 28, 1998, under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests, rejecting global pressure, economic sanctions, and American offers—thereby becoming the first nuclear power in the Islamic world. Azma Bokhari emphasized that Nawaz Sharif, in a bold and unequivocal response to U.S. pressure, raised the flag of national honour by firmly saying 'Absolutely Not.' By prioritizing national sovereignty above all else, Nawaz Sharif crushed India's arrogance and made Pakistan's defence invincible. She added that today, Pakistan's armed forces continue to maintain superiority over adversaries—a continuation of the firm and strategic decision made on May 28, 1998. Further highlighting the historical context, she said that while India took pride in its nuclear tests on May 10, Pakistan's response on May 28 was a powerful and fitting reply that shattered India's pride. 'Elder brother Nawaz Sharif broke India's arrogance, while younger brother Shehbaz Sharif made it bite the dust,' she remarked. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Tunggu hiruk dulu
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. Copyright © 2009 - 2025 FMT Media Sdn Bhd (1235453-U) All Rights Reserved. A part of Media Prima Group.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Merajuk sebagai senjata Melayu
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. Copyright © 2009 - 2025 FMT Media Sdn Bhd (1235453-U) All Rights Reserved. A part of Media Prima Group.
