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THE status of women in Pakistan is not homogenous due to the inter -connection of gender with other forms. Exclusion in society .unseen socioeconomic development and the impact of tribal, feudal and capitalist social practices have led to diversity in the status of women across classes, region and the rural and urban divide.

Despite progress, too many women are still denied education, and decent healthcare, and ‘violence against women is endemic in all countries.

Many countries are working to improve reproductive health services and are training staff to provide better information, wider choices and client-centred care but the need for universal access to education and quality reproductive health care is as pressing as ever. The benefits of education for girls and women are well-documented, yet in developing countries, like Pakistan girls are two-thirds of the 130 million who are not attending school .Education also leads to the postponement of child birth, and have fewer and healthier children.

Although contraceptive use has increased ,there are still 350 million women in developing countries who do not have access to the range of safe and effective family planning methods. Up to half of the nearly175million pregnancies each year are unwanted or ill-timed, the report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPF) says further more. There are no trained child birth specialists present at almost half of all births in developing countries, putting the lives of mothers and babies in jeopardy.

Every minute more than one women dies from problems related to child-birth and pregnancy. Less than 1 pr cent of the deaths occur in developed nations. Of the estimated 585,000 women die each year. One study found that where mothers’ death rates were very high, the risk could be reduced by as much as 80 percent by providing care during pregnancy ,information about warning signs and services to provide emergency obstetric care during child birth.

In many developing countries girls often marry and being child bearing at an early age sometimes before reaching full maturity increase the risk of pregnancy related death or injury jeopardizing their children’s chances of survival. The ICP stressed that married and married adolescents should have access of reproductive health information and services including family planning.

Another key concern is violence, against women including rape, domestic violence , dowry murder and honour killings. Although there are growing efforts to stop it; more than half of all women will suffer some form of gender based violence in their lives, according to the report.

As we enter the 21st century ,over a billion people are still deprived of basic need of the 4.8 billion people in developing countries ,nearly three-fifths lack basic sanitation. Almost a third have no access to clean water. A quarter do not have adequate housing and a fifth have no access to modern health services. In less- developed regions, one-fifth of children do not attend school to grade 5.

There is also increasing pressure on the planet due to wasteful and unbalanced consumption patterns and growing numbers of people ,raising demand for food and water. In addition ,the effect of global warning remains to be seen. Possible changes such as sea level rise increased storms and floods could affect billions of people.

The cumulative effects of continuing poverty ,gender discrimination HIV/ AIDS, environmental change and shrinking resources for development have the potential to wipe out the benefits of lower birth rates

The Government of Pakistan is firmly committed to improving the status of women in the country. Government has taken a number of measures to release the women from the factors that hold them back and to speed up their progress.

The commission has taken into account some major issues being faced by the women including violence against women, honour killings ,discriminatory laws and employment and health conditions of the women.

Besides, the members of the commission have visited centre Jail Karachi to get first-hand knowledge about the conditions of female prisoners. The commission has constituted committees in areas like education, health, law and violence etc. These committees are examining the issues and will submit recommendations for improvement of status of women in the country.

Women in Pakistan like other countries of the world are joining mainstream of socioeconomic activitcs. Constituting almost half of the population of the country they have been struggling since long to rise their status in society.

With the advent of Islam some fourteen hundred years ago women were given equal status with men full dignity and respect. The Islamic teaching enlightened the society reeling under darkness and ignorance and gave rightful place to women with all guarantees to their basic rights.

Father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah while addressing annual dinner of the Old Boys Association of Usmania University, said women should stand shoulder to shoulder with men in practical politics. Addressing Muslim league session Lahore in 1940. The architect of Pakistan said women are supposed to create a sense of great political consciousness

There is no iota of doubt that women of Pakistan today are much confident. Dedicated, dynamic and progressive. They have succeeded in achieving elevated position in the social, economic and political fields. They are now working in all sectors of the society including media education art showbiz planning and decision making. They are eager to participate in every endeavour. Pakistani women are racing on the fast track of progress and nothing can stop them now.

The writer is a freelance columnist.