Close the gap

The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 has dealt Pakistan a humiliating blow, dragging it down to 148th place with a parity score of just 56.7 percent. It’s more than just numbers on a report card; it’s a mirror to the rot within our institutions and mindsets that continue to sideline women from the mainstream. The editorial paints a bleak picture of a country where successive governments have shrugged off their responsibilities, where women’s presence in the formal economy remains a feeble 25 percent, and where a rape occurs every two minutes yet only three percent of cases result in conviction. Even the slight progress in education is a mirage, partly attributed to fewer men enrolling, not better access for women. The state’s reluctance to tackle misogynistic power dynamics head-on has left women shackled by a system that works more like a cage than a constitution.

What’s more damning is how the leadership’s half-hearted promises and data blind spots add insult to injury. The editorial raises valid concerns about the report’s methodology, particularly Pakistan’s placement below war-torn countries like Yemen and Sudan, where women face near-complete deprivation. Still, it’s hard to argue when the ground realities are so grim. From political empowerment to criminal justice, from health access to workplace equity, Pakistan seems to be going round in circles, chasing shadows instead of delivering justice. Without serious political will, transparent reforms and proper recognition of the informal sector’s contribution, the country will remain caught in a vicious cycle of gender injustice and global embarrassment.

Overview:

This article discusses Pakistan’s sharp fall in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025, placing it at the bottom globally. It exposes the country’s ongoing failure in addressing gender inequality across employment, education, health and political participation. The editorial also questions the report’s methodology but concludes that the harsh rankings reflect deeper societal and structural dysfunctions.

NOTES:

This article highlights measurable failures in economic participation, justice Delivery and governance concerning women’s rights. The article provides case-based examples such as low conviction rates and skewed labour force representation. It can also support critical perspectives on global indices and how data gaps affect developing nations’ rankings.

Relevant to CSS syllabus or subjects:

• Pakistan Affairs The article deeply aligns with Pakistan Affairs, particularly under the themes of social structure, issues of national integration, and development. It addresses how gender inequality undermines national progress and development indicators, reflecting weak institutional responses and governance failures within Pakistan.
• Gender Studies This is the most directly connected subject. The article discusses gender parity, women’s participation in the economy, education, politics, and health. It critiques patriarchal norms and institutional barriers that limit women’s empowerment, all of which are core themes in Gender Studies.
• Governance and Public Policies The failure of governments to ensure protective mechanisms for women, weak implementation of laws, and ineffective justice systems directly link with governance and public policy failures. This article critically assesses how public institutions have failed to deliver gender equity and justice.
• Current Affairs Since the article is based on the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, it connects to contemporary global assessments and Pakistan’s standing in international rankings. Understanding this article prepares candidates to discuss Pakistan’s current socio-economic image on global platforms.

Notes for Beginners:

This article talks about how women in Pakistan are being left behind in important areas of life. For example in jobs only one out of four women is part of the formal workforce. In education girls have made little progress, but only because fewer boys are going to college. The justice system also fails women badly, with only three out of every hundred rape cases ending in punishment. Even when leaders promise change, the actual results are disappointing. Some countries like Sudan and Yemen, which are at war, still ranked better than Pakistan. This shows how serious the problem is and how much effort is needed to improve.

Facts and Figures:

• Pakistan ranks 148th in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025
• Gender parity dropped from 57 percent to 56.7 percent
• Only 25 percent of women are part of the formal workforce
• Rape conviction rate stands at a shocking 3 percent
• Punjab recorded 60,217 abuse cases in 2024 with only 924 convictions
• Education parity rose by 1.5 percent, mainly due to male dropout
• Pakistan ranks 147 in economic participation, 137 in education, 131 in health and 118 in political empowerment

To sum up, this editorial is a loud siren blaring through the chambers of power. If Pakistan wants to lift itself from this abyss, cosmetic statements and weak policies won’t cut it. What’s needed is a complete overhaul in thinking, law enforcement, and leadership accountability. Until women are treated not as statistical liabilities but as equal citizens, the road to progress will remain nothing more than a broken promise.

Difficult Words and Meanings:

• Parity – equal status or condition (syn: equality, ant: imbalance)
• Descent – a decline or drop (syn: fall, ant: rise)
• Mores – established customs or traditions (syn: norms, ant: disobedience)
• Dismal – very bad or depressing (syn: bleak, ant: hopeful)
• Void – an empty space or lack of something (syn: gap, ant: presence)
• Timid – lacking courage or confidence (syn: hesitant, ant: bold)
• Misogynistic – showing hatred or mistrust towards women (syn: sexist, ant: feminist)
• Acquitted – freed from criminal charge (syn: released, ant: convicted)
• Imbalanced – lacking proportion or equality (syn: unequal, ant: balanced)