Maliha Lodhi on factors preventing women from excelling in Pakistan

By
Web Desk
|

If there is one thing that parents should do for their children, both boys and girls, it is to educate them, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi said in an interview with Geo Pakistan, Geo News' morning show on Wednesday.

"This is what gives you confidence, makes you a productive citizen, and teaches you how to assert your rights," she said.

Speaking about the crucial role a family plays in shaping an individual she said her achievements in life would not have been possible if her family had not supported her.

"Before I talk about how parents should raise independent girls I want to speak about how boys should be brought up," she said adding that parents should tell their boys to respect women, something that even our religion preaches.

She said that families have legitimate concerns when they send their women for work as the environment at workplaces is not as accepting yet. "Despite that it is heartening to see so many women working in the media, as lawyers and at other places."

Lodhi said that the constitution guarantees women equal rights to women and the founding fathers of Pakistan asked women to step forward and join the workforce. Quoting Quaid-e-Azam she said "our nation cannot prosper until its women stand side by side with men."

She added that three factors prevented women from excelling in their careers: lack of education, societal pressures and family pressures. Having said that, she added whenever given a chance women not just competed with men but also outperformed them.