Women’s empowerment and freedom are considered to be directly connected to the employment of women, and it is generally believed that if a woman does a job and is financially independent, the chance of her being exploited on the basis of her gender are minimal. But is it just a theory or is it actually so?

This is a blog from one of our readers, Roheena Sajid from Pakistan. We welcome other readers that would like to write for us.

Malala Yousafzai © picture-alliance/Geisler/D. Van Tine

Malala Yousafzai said it, and it is true. Education is a right that is under threat by the Taliban in Pakistan. Police often have to stand guard outside schools. In the past the Taliban has attacked schools and killed children and teachers were killed. It could happen again any time. In Pakistan: education is an act of courage. See more here!

A woman steers a vehicle of the ‘Pink-Rickshaw’. Zar Aslam, president of Pakistan’s non-profit Environment Protection Fund, launched the scheme for women on roads who are often harassed by male auto-rickshaw drivers while they get to their homes or work places. © picture-alliance/dpa/R. Dar

Parveen Bibi was one of the first women to drive a rickshaw in Lahore. Many men react with hostility, but she says it’s her business how she supports her family.

© picture-alliance/dpa

The mullah culture is a constant threat to new and secular feminism in Pakistan, writes feminist writer Ayesha Hasan.

© reuters

There’s something we missed in recent media coverage of the two Pakistani stories, writes feminist writer, academic Ayesha Hasan.  

© Roheena Sajid

A few months ago some women from Islamabad (Pakistan) organized a conference to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault. This conference was organized in one of the universities in Islamabad by the collaboration of “Gender And Woman Studies” department professionals. People from different walks of life attended the conference including politicians, teachers, students and social workers. The basic purpose of this conference was to raise awareness about the rape and harassment.

© Muniba Mazari

Muniba Mazari represents the modern woman in Pakistan. In a conservative country like Pakistan, she has broken the stereotypes. She is a writer, artist, singer, activist and a motivational speaker . The beautiful and attractive young female is also a paraplegic, having lost control of both legs after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Recently, UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, named Muniba Mazari as Pakistan’s first female goodwill ambassador to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.