In Pakistan, patriarchy deeply permeates society, often necessitating male endorsement for women’s representation. Shifting this paradigm is essential to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and fostering genuine progress:

• Women’s issues should be integrated as mainstream societal goals rather than being perceived as ‘soft’ or secondary agendas. Women’s progress is fundamen-tal to societal advancement and should be prioritized across all policy sectors.
• Reinforce policies to prevent child marriage and address the high birth rate.    Effective regulation and community engagement are needed to delay early marriages, improving health and economic outcomes.
• Allocate direct seats in the Parliament and ensure women’s representation in        decision-making bodies. Without substantial female representation, democratic processes lack inclusivity and fail to reflect societal needs.
• If women, who constitute nearly half of the population, are underrepresented or restricted from participation, election outcomes should be reassessed for                 legitimacy.
• Ensure women have a presence where significant decisions are made,                   recognising that countries progress when women are empowered to lead and con-tribute.
• While many women work in sectors like clothing, jewelry, and crafts, there is a pressing need to provide access to diverse business opportunities, including        exports and entrepreneurship in emerging industries.
• Engage women in nutrition-focused roles, enabling them to contribute to public health recommendations and promote healthier consumption patterns across     communities.
• Offer training and mentorship in non-traditional fields to diversify women’s skills, supporting them in acquiring capabilities beyond conventional roles.