Rethinking Gender Justice Through Education.
As I sit down to write this week, I’m heartened by a piece of positive news: the Child Marriage Restraint Law has been passed in Parliament, setting the legal age of marriage for both, boys and girls at 18. This is a significant step forward in the fight for gender justice in Pakistan, a cause I have often lamented for its slow progress, as reflected in our country’s dismal rankings on international indices.

For those who may not be aware, Pakistan has consistently ranked near the bottom in global assessments of gender equality. In 2023, the country was ranked 142nd out of 146 nations on the Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum. This index measures gender parity across four dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Alarmingly, in 2024, Pakistan dropped further to 145th, the second-lowest rank globally, with only Sudan ranked lower. Breaking this down further, Pakistan was ranked 143rd in economic participation and opportunity, 139th in educational attainment, 132nd in health and survival, and 112th in political empowerment.

As a researcher exploring language at the intersection of gender and society, these numbers highlight the stark disparities that continue to exist in all key spheres of life in Pakistan. Pakistani women urgently need empowerment across the economic, educational, health, and political domains, especially in decision-making spaces where their voices remain underrepresented. While many factors contribute to these gaps, one of the most critical is the lack of consistent and equitable access to education for girls. The Global Gender Gap Index underscores this issue. Although many girls are enrolled in primary education, their numbers gradually diminish as they ascend the higher levels of schooling. This decline is often linked to the increasing domestic responsibilities that girls are expected to shoulder as they grow older.

According to UNICEF Pakistan, an estimated 22.8 million children aged 5–16 are out of school, with boys outnumbering girls at every educational stage. Similarly, disparities based on gender, socioeconomic status, and geography are stark. In Sindh, 52% of the poorest children are out of school, with girls making up 58% of that figure. In Balochistan, a staggering 78% of girls are not in school. While it’s true that many girls in major Pakistani cities pursue higher education, the question remains as to how many of them are able to convert that education into sustainable, long-term careers.

As an academic and researcher, I regularly witness young girls getting married during the early years of their university education, often finishing their degrees with divided attention, juggling academic work and domestic responsibilities. My observations may not fully represent the vast population of Pakistani girls who never even reach higher education due to financial limitations or early marriage. This is especially true for those living in remote or rural areas where early marriage is a norm.

Despite these challenges, the Child Marriage Restraint Law marks a significant and meaningful shift, especially in a society where some factions still argue that a girl’s marriage age should coincide with puberty. This legislation stands as a hard-won victory for women in Pakistan, symbolising progress in the face of deeply entrenched norms. It offers hope that more girls will now have the opportunity to complete their education and take charge of shaping their futures.