The 2.6mn women who 'do not exist' in Pakistan

Over two million women are not full citizens of Pakistan, reveals a startlingly data compiled by the Islamabad-based non-profit organization, the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA).

Close to 2.6 million women in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not possess a national identity card (NIC), the organization shared on Twitter.

A identity card allows citizens in Pakistan to vote, seek membership of political parties, gain access to government welfare schemes and services including hospitals, education, and banks. Women, who do not have identity documents, are deprived of participating in public life and becoming full citizens of the country.

According to TDEA, of the 2.6 million disenfranchised women, 100,000 are from Swabi.

While, 70,000 live in Abbottabad and 90,000 in Bajaur.