Women Leadership Pakistan

Women Pakistan played a major role in the Pakistan Movement. This was of great historical significance, for the Muslim women of the subcontinent had never participated in such great numbers in a political movement. It was a befitting culmination of the reformist movements of the late nineteenth century for the emancipation and education of Muslim women. The Quaid can be seen as source of inspiration for their emergence as players on the political scene.

The challenges to increasing women Pakistan participation in mainstream economic activity, and the creation of leadership within women entrepreneurs, are manifold. These challenges range from social taboos; conservative lobbies; lack of access to education, information, and finance to discriminatory behaviors by male counterparts, severely inhibiting the ability of women to develop leadership skills and to participate in the policymaking process. Yet another complexity is the non-existent gender focused institutions such as women chambers, which generally act as facilitators in networking, mentorship, and learning opportunities.

In Pakistan, the low literacy rate, especially for girls, is alarming. That is compounded by a high dropout rate from schools. According to the Population Census the current women pakistan literacy stands at 36%. Astonishingly, starting at 33% enrolment at the primary school, only 6.59% enroll at the high school level, reducing further to 1.2% at the University Degree level! This reduces the chances of females emerging in the leadership role both in the political structure as well as entrepreneurs and senior executives.

Women leadership in Pakistan is developing slowly. Earlier, Dr. Fehmida Mirza of Pakistan People's Party was elected the first woman speaker of the National Assembly. Recently, Ms. Nasrin Haq became the first woman to head the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) as its chief executive. She is the first civilian as KPT chief in 18 years. Women leadership of Pakistan yet becoming another history and was written by Pakistan's premier business association, The Overseas Chamber of Commerce & Industry, appointed its first ever women CEO Unjela Siddiqi.Followed by that, in January 2008, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) appointed Jehan Ara as the first paid woman CEO. Notably, Jehan Area was previously elected as President of P@SHA for two consecutive terms.

Unjela Siddiqi – First woman CEO of a business association in Pakistan

Jehan Ara – First woman president of a business association in Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto was the first woman leader elected to lead a Muslim state, having twice been Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988–1990; 1993–1996). She was Pakistan's first and to date only female prime minister.