KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday unveiled its first-ever Gender Parity Report, a landmark assessment of gender equality across the province.

While highlighting notable gains in maternal health, female employment and political participation, the report identifies persistent gender gaps in literacy, school enrolment, workforce representation, digital access and decision-making roles.

The report, presented to the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah by Special Assistant to CM (SACM) on Human Rights Rajvir Singh Sodho here at the CM House, provides the first comprehensive provincial baseline on gender disparities and progress across key sectors, including health, education, justice, governance, economic participation and demographics, said a press release issued by the CM House.

According to the report, Sindh’s population reached 55.69 million in 2023, growing at an annual rate of 2.57 per cent, with a sex ratio of 108.76 males for every 100 females.

The report records steady progress in the health sector, where public allocations increased from Rs214.5 billion in 2023-24 to Rs267.54bn in 2024-25 and are projected to rise further to Rs318.22bn in 2025-26. Maternal mortality declined significantly from 314 to 224 deaths per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality stood at 24 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Despite these gains, education sector remains one of the province’s most significant challenges. The report shows male literacy at 68 per cent compared to 47pc among females, while literacy among rural women remains critically low at 27.52pc. More than 4.08m girls between the ages of five and 16 remain out of school, underscoring the need for urgent and sustained action.

In the justice sector, women continue to be underrepresented, accounting for only 4.34pc of the police force, 18.3pc of prosecutors and 13.7pc of judges.

The report also documented 3,085 reported cases of gender-based violence during 2024, highlighting the need for stronger protection mechanisms and improved access to justice.

The report also highlights encouraging trends in governance, political participation and economic inclusion. Women’s voter registration exceeded 12m, while the number of women contesting general elections increased from 23 in 2018 to 53 in 2024.

While female employment increased from 2.48m to 3.32m, the report notes that barriers related to digital connectivity, financial inclusion, skills development, entrepreneurship and access to decent work continue to limit women’s full economic participation.

The report concludes that while Sindh has achieved measurable progress in several sectors, sustained reforms, stronger institutions, improved district-level data systems and focused investments will be essential to achieving inclusive, equitable and gender-responsive development throughout the province.

Murad calls for targeted reforms

The CM directed all provincial departments to undertake targeted reforms, strengthen gender-responsive governance and improve access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities and representation for women and girls.

He described the report as a critical policy tool that would guide evidence-based planning, resource allocation and institutional reforms aimed at advancing gender equality across Sindh.

“Gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a prerequisite for sustainable development,” Mr Shah said. “The report gives us a clear understanding of where progress has been achieved and where urgent interventions are required. We will use these findings to strengthen policies and programmes that empower women and girls across the province.”

Reaffirming the Pakistan Peoples Party’s long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment, Mr Shah paid tribute to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, describing her as a global symbol of courage, democratic values and gender equality.

“Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto dedicated her political struggle to the empowerment of women, the protection of fundamental rights and the creation of equal opportunities for all citizens. Her vision continues to guide our efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable Sindh,” he said.

The CM instructed departments to strengthen gender-disaggregated data systems, improve monitoring mechanisms, enhance coordination among institutions and ensure that women’s needs and perspectives are integrated into planning and budgeting processes.

He said the Sindh government remained committed to removing these barriers through targeted investments, institutional reforms and gender-responsive development planning.

“Our goal is to create a Sindh where every woman and girl has equal opportunities to learn, work, lead and contribute to society. The findings of this report will help us accelerate that journey and ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.

Presenting the report, Mr Sodho described it as a milestone achievement for Sindh’s human rights framework and a foundation for gender-responsive policymaking.

“This is the first comprehensive provincial assessment that consolidates gender-related indicators from multiple sectors into a single analytical framework. It provides policymakers with reliable evidence to identify gaps, track progress and formulate targeted interventions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2026