Invisible women

The editorial throws a glaring spotlight on the grim reality of being a woman in Pakistan in 2025, as the country sinks to rock bottom in the Global Gender Gap Report, ranked 148 out of 148. While some may boast about rising female university enrolment and health survival rates, these achievements barely scratch the surface. The truth is far more bitter. Once a woman steps out of her educational institution, she’s up against a rigged game—riddled with patriarchal landmines, a job market that slams doors in her face, and public spaces that aren’t just unwelcoming but downright dangerous. Even within political corridors, where decisions about her fate are made, she finds herself grossly underrepresented and often silenced, harassed, or discredited. It’s not just about climbing the ladder; the ladder itself is missing a few rungs.

What makes the situation even more disheartening is the state’s deafening silence in the face of such oppression. The editorial rightly argues that empowerment isn’t merely about access—it’s about equity, security and respect. A degree without dignity, a job without safety, and a vote without a voice are hollow victories. When a woman’s life is reduced to navigating minefields just to earn, speak or exist freely, the promise of progress becomes a cruel joke. Until policymakers treat women’s rights not as fringe demands but as foundational principles, Pakistan will keep spiralling in global rankings and moral standing alike. This isn’t just a report card failure, it’s a national shame.

Overview:

The editorial analyzes Pakistan’s abysmal standing in global gender parity rankings, shedding light on the institutional and social barriers that continue to suppress women’s progress. Despite pockets of educational success, the lack of economic inclusion, political representation, and public safety signals systemic failure, where symbolic progress often masks deeper issues of exclusion and vulnerability.

NOTES:

This article touches on issues like gender inequality, women’s rights, education, governance, social justice, and human development. The data from the Global Gender Gap Report can be quoted as evidence in gender studies, sociology, or essay questions. The critique of state apathy and the demand for structural reform provides analytical ground for opinion-based answers.

Relevance to CSS syllabus or subjects:

• Gender Studies (Gender Inequality, Empowerment, Patriarchy)
• Pakistan Affairs (Social Development, Governance Issues)
• Sociology (Social Institutions, Gender Roles)
• Essay Writing (Women Empowerment, Human Rights)
• Governance and Public Policy (Policy Gaps, Representation)

Notes for beginners:

The article focuses on how women in Pakistan, despite achieving academic success, struggle to find equal footing in workplaces, politics, and society at large. For example, while 52% of university students are female, only one out of 31 federal ministers is a woman, showing that education doesn’t automatically translate into empowerment. Many women face harassment in public, workplace bias, and are expected to abide by restrictive family roles. The Global Gender Gap Report placed Pakistan at the bottom 148th out of 148 countries which indicats that women here suffer the most in terms of opportunities and safety compared to the rest of the world. The article also notes that gains made by women are often erased or belittled due to societal attitudes and lack of supportive policies.

Facts and Figures:

• Pakistan ranked 148th out of 148 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025
• Economic participation score: 34.7%
• Female university enrolment: 52%
• Only 1 woman in the 31-member federal cabinet
• Highest subindex: Health and survival at 95.9%, yet maternal health is still poor

To sum up, this editorial doesn’t mince words, it draws a hard line under the state’s failure to lift women up. It captures the pain of a society that prides itself on progress but stumbles when it comes to half its population. The message is loud and clear: real change won’t come through token gestures. It must be stitched into the nation’s policy, culture, and conscience. Until then Pakistan’s daughters will keep walking a tightrope, balancing ambition with fear, and hope with heartbreak.

Difficult Words and Meanings:

1. Parity – equality in status or amount (Syn: balance, equality | Ant: disparity)
2. Apathy – lack of interest or concern (Syn: indifference | Ant: concern)
3. Disgraceful – shameful or dishonorable (Syn: shameful | Ant: honorable)
4. Substantive – having a firm basis in reality (Syn: concrete, factual | Ant: superficial)
5. Hostile – unfriendly or antagonistic (Syn: aggressive | Ant: friendly)
6. Misogyny – dislike of or prejudice against women (Syn: sexism | Ant: egalitarianism)
7. Indictment – a statement showing strong disapproval (Syn: condemnation | Ant: praise)
8. Onslaught – a fierce or destructive attack (Syn: assault | Ant: retreat)
9. Guise – external form or appearance concealing the true nature (Syn: disguise | Ant: reality)
10. Symbolic – serving as a representation (Syn: representative | Ant: literal)