The first Sindh Gender Parity Report has highlighted a significant gap in education and other areas, revealing that more than 4.08 million girls in the province are out of school.
The report was presented to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah by Special Assistant on Human Rights Rajvir Singh Sodha. The chief minister subsequently called for reforms to promote gender equality and ensure equal opportunities for women and girls.
According to the report, the literacy rate among men in Sindh stands at 68 percent, compared with 47 percent among women. The situation is more pronounced in rural Sindh, where the female literacy rate is reported at only 27.52 percent.
The report said the large number of girls aged between five and 16 who remain out of school is a major concern. It called for immediate measures to improve girls’ enrolment and address the gender gap in education.
The report also noted progress in maternal health. Maternal deaths have declined from 314 to 224 per 100,000 cases, while an increase in the health budget was described as a positive development. However, the report stressed the need for stronger measures to protect women from gender-based violence.
According to the report, the number of registered female voters in Sindh has crossed 12 million. Female employment also increased from 2.48 million to 3.32 million, while women’s labour-force participation rose from 43.8 percent to 46.2 percent.
The report said barriers to women’s economic participation still exist, including limited access to digital facilities and decent employment opportunities. It recommended greater access to financial inclusion, skills training and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Murad Ali Shah directed provincial departments to formulate policies in light of the Gender Parity Report and strengthen systems for collecting gender-disaggregated data. The report is intended to support policymaking and resource allocation across the province.
