National Working Women’s Day is a public holiday in Pakistan that is observed on December 22nd each year. The holiday was established to honour and recognize the contributions of working women in Pakistan and to promote gender equality in the workplace.
One way to support working women in Pakistan and promote gender equality is by starting Lean In Circles. Lean In Circles are small groups of people who meet regularly to support and empower each other to achieve their goals. These circles are based on the principles outlined in Sheryl Sandberg’s book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.”
Sheryl Sandberg is an American business executive, author, and philanthropist. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook, a position she has held since 2008. Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg served as the Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google.
In addition to her work in the tech industry, Sandberg is also known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in the areas of gender equality and education. She is the founder of the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, which works to advance gender equality and improve access to education and opportunities for women and girls.
Starting Lean In Circles in Pakistan can be especially important because women in Pakistan often face barriers to career advancement and face discrimination in the workplace. Lean In Circles can provide a supportive environment where women can share their experiences, offer each other encouragement, and learn from one another’s successes and challenges.
In addition to providing support and empowerment, Lean In Circles can also be a powerful tool for building networks and fostering professional development. By participating in a Lean In Circle, women can connect with other like-minded individuals and gain access to new opportunities and resources that can help them advance in their careers.
Overall, starting Lean In Circles in Pakistan can be a valuable way to support working women and promote gender equality in the country. By providing a supportive and empowering environment, Lean In Circles can help women overcome barriers and achieve their professional goals.
Importance of Gender Equality in Pakistan
Gender equality is important for every country, including Pakistan, because it is a fundamental human right and a necessary condition for achieving a just and equitable society. When women and men have equal opportunities and rights, everyone benefits.
In Pakistan, promoting gender equality is particularly important because women in the country often face barriers to education, employment, and political participation. According to the World Bank, Pakistan has one of the lowest rates of female labour force participation in the world, and women in Pakistan are often paid less than men for the same work.
Moreover, Pakistan ranks second-worst out of 146 countries for gender equality. Pakistan is home to 107 million women, yet when it comes to closing the gender gap, the country is still struggling.
Promoting gender equality in Pakistan can have a number of positive impacts, including:
- Improved economic growth: When women have equal opportunities to participate in the workforce and contribute to the economy, it can lead to increased economic growth and development.
- Improved health outcomes: Gender equality can also lead to improved health outcomes for women, as it can give them more control over their own health and reproductive choices.
- Improved social cohesion: Promoting gender equality can also help to reduce social tensions and promote more inclusive and cohesive societies.
Hina Shoaib has created history as the first-ever female chef from Pakistan to win the honour of winning 3rd place at the Jeddah International Chef Competition. Shoaib represented Pakistan at the international competition and showed her culinary skills. Her meals left a positive impression on the judges and she secured her way to the top 3.
Amna Mustabeen Baig is the first Pakistani woman to join Koenigsegg Automotives as a Manufacturing Engineer. Previously, Farukh Kamran, a graduate of UET became a part of the Swedish hypercar brand. Koenigsegg Automotive AB is a Swedish manufacturer of high-performance sports cars based in Sweden and is famous for manufacturing the world’s fastest car priced at around $3 million.
Two-time Academy Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has director episodes 4 & 5 of the Ms Marvel series for Disney+. She is the first Pakistani filmmaker to introduce the first Pakistani female superhero from the Marvel universe. Ms Marvel’s depiction of Pakistan and South Asian history is rooted in authenticity and is devoid of stereotypes.
Dr. Mahwish Sharif is the First Doctor in Balochistan with a Hearing Impairment. At the age of 4, Sharif lost her hearing due to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) due to eardrum damage. She overcame years of prejudice by finishing medical school and being appointed at the only health facility in the provincial capital Quetta for respiratory and viral diseases, Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital, as a doctor.
Dr Kashmala Amjad Malik is Pakistan’s first woman surgical oncologist. As per Dr Kashmala’s LinkedIn profile, she is based in Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan but hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital of Peshawar. Malik is also an alumnus of Agha Khan University. At AKU, she completed her education in General Surgery. She passed the second fellowship examination in Surgical Oncology from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital (Accredited by CPSP) in Lahore.
Sana Khurshid took to Twitter in 2021 to talk about her journey, the accident, and the title of becoming Pakistan’s first specially-abled lawyer.
Sarah Ahmad recently won the Heros Gala by Global Collaborative in Rome, Italy for services in preventing kids’ exploitation. This is a great honour for Pakistan, as Sarah gets recognized for her services to Children’s Safety and Welfare. Ahmad is the Chairperson of the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau (CPB). The CPB chairperson said receiving the award was an honour for her and for Pakistan as well. She said that she had dedicated the Award to all children of Pakistan.
Samar Khan recently became the first-ever person and only female athlete to summit and snowboard on a virgin peak (5,610 meters). In honour of her achievement, the peak has been named ‘Ghar-e-Samar’. Moreover, Khan has also successfully conducted the first-ever cycling camp in the history of Landikotal-Khyber. More than 15 girls experienced the joy of cycling because of her initiative.
At the mere age of 11, Haniya Minhas has accomplished something not many people can at her age or even in adulthood. Minhas created history by defeating Tunisia in her final group match to become the first Pakistani to be ranked in the Top 3 Asian Tennis Sports. Moreover, she won the ‘‘Europe Singles Under 14 Adana Cup Turkey Championship’ that took place in Turkey earlier this year.
Pakistani pacer Fatima Sana became the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) “Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2021”. She also became the first woman to win an ICC accolade by achieving the title. The ICC issued a statement on the occasion saying that Sana has “shown good power and range as a lower-order batter too. Batting at No.8, she has registered impressive scores of 28*, 22*, and 17* against strong sides like West Indies, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, respectively.”
Abiha Haider is Pakistan’s youngest female footballer to be featured in FIFA’s female heroes documentary. At the mere age of 13, Abiha joined the national team Pakistan. She followed her passion despite the obstacles in her path due to the lack of opportunities for women in sports in Pakistan. At the age of 14, she was invited to the Sports United Exchange program. Quickly she garnered fame for herself with her outstanding performance and dedication.
