Date: 04 May 2019
Every year, Mother’s Day is celebrated to recognize and appreciate the invaluable role of mothers in society. However, discussions rarely focus on the challenges faced by working mothers. On May 4, 2019, GNMI took the initiative to address this topic under the “Lab-Kushaai” project.
The discussion has initially focused on the challenges faced by working mothers but has since broadened to address the gender employment gap and the increasing trend of women entering the workforce in Pakistan. Insights from reports and opinions of female leaders have been incorporated into the conversation.
The 2018 World Economic Forum report has served as the basis for the discussion, highlighting Pakistan’s rankings among 149 countries: 146th in economic participation and opportunity, 145th in health and survival, and 97th in political empowerment. Despite these concerning figures, the report has also offered some optimism regarding women’s employment. Notably, while male employment has increased by 8%, female employment has seen a significant rise of 14%.
Iconic actor Gul-e-Rana and Shanzay Ramzi, CEO of Starlink PR, have emphasized the positive aspects of being a working mother, stating, “Children of working mothers are more disciplined, better at time management, and can handle multiple tasks more efficiently.”
The event highlighted that, while the current realities remain challenging, society is gradually progressing toward more gender-inclusive workplaces
