Issues related to the rights of women in Pakistan can be categorically laid to rest by simply understanding the two pillars pertaining to the status of women in Pakistan. The first of those pillars is that men in Pakistan are always considered the higher authority, whereas women will always remain the subordinate body performing under men. As sad as the above mentioned statement sounds, perhaps the next one is even more depressing.

In a country like Pakistan, the honor of a man is extremely important to him and it is believed that such an honor is bestowed and resides in the very hands of the women of his family. The man’s honor can climb a ladder and reach the skies or consequently drop drastically down from a building depending on the actions taken by the women. Following an Islamic religion, the women of Pakistan follow a well-differentiated lifestyle that can be at times the laughing stock for the women of western and more modern countries.

The society which follows the fundamentals of Islam believes that the woman of the household is created for her husband. Although the religion has stated that men and women are born equally and that it further allows women to do all that a man does, it also states that man has been created a degree higher than the woman. The society of Pakistan is where the trouble begins. Some ethnicities of Pakistan misinterpret the teachings of their religion and indulge in extremist type activities disallowing women the right to education, the right to having a say in marriage, and basically deprive them of the real necessities to a social and healthy lifestyle.

Extreme societies limit the growth of the women and disembark them from pursuing their wishes. Some societies of Pakistan also limit the mobility of women even though some of them are dressed according to which their religion specifies. It is only except for the modern cities of Pakistan such as Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and a few others where women do not fear travelling alone without following the Islamic system of dressing.

In majority of the areas of Pakistan, the activities of women are separated from that of man. The constraints of purdah (a Persian word for curtain/veil) somehow constitute a separate norm for woman to live under. Almost, most if not all women pertaining to such areas are expected to live most of their lives at their homes and can go out for only the most serious of reasons that have to be approved by the man of the house. The women’s social life depends if the women is married or not. If the women are married then her social life depends and mainly revolves around her husband. For non-married women her social life revolves around her families.

Generally, the women and international communities along with others have done a lot for contemplating and safeguarding the rights of women. It is because of the dedication of a small group of people whom acknowledged the need for increasing the rights of the women of Pakistan that the women of Pakistan are freely allowed to work, be educated and moreover live a natural life.

With the likes of Benazir Bhutto being the first woman of the Muslim world to become the Prime Minister of their countries is known to be the turning point for increasing the rights of women in Pakistan.

Currently, cities that are far progressed than rural areas seem to show a balance in the lifestyles of women where religion and worldly activities are maintained in a balanced decorum. There has been without a doubt an increase in the number of jobs taken by women, hence shows that education for women have also been on the rise. The rural areas such as FATA, NWFP and other regions where more extreme versions of the religion prevail are improving by the day with regards to the rights of women. All in all, it wouldn’t take much time before the media along with educated people spread like a virus and enlighten the rights of women to reach an all time high.