Maryam Shah

FAISALABAD: In the industrial heart of Pakistan, where the hum of textile machines rarely stops, hundreds of women quietly power one of the country&rsquo;s most important industries. Inside a modest garment unit in Faisalabad, rows of workers sit behind sewing machines, carefully stitching fabrics that will eventually become everyday clothing items worn around the world. Among them are dozens of women whose skill and dedication keep the production lines moving. For many, the workday begins early and stretches well into the evening. &ldquo;We work the whole week,&rdquo; Shaheen, an employee, told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Our duty is from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but sometimes it continues until 8:00 PM.&rdquo; Despite the long hours, the women handle a wide range of tasks inside the factory. From operating Singer sewing machines to managing overlock machines and other equipment, they move seamlessly between roles depending on where they are needed. &ldquo;Those sitting at the Singer machine do Singer work, and those on the overlock do overlock work,&rdquo; another worker, Shagufta Banu, explained. &ldquo;But we can work on all machines. Wherever they seat us, we do the job.&rdquo; Inside the workshop, garments move from one stage to another in a steady rhythm. Midis, bras, hoodies and other clothing items arrive in stacks of fabric and the workers stitch, assemble and prepare them for the next step in production. From the first seam to the final stitch, much of the process is carried out by these women, workers whose precision and attention to detail are essential to maintaining quality. For many of them, the work represents far more than a paycheck. Their income helps support families, contributes to children&rsquo;s education and, for some, offers a meaningful step toward financial independence and confidence. Factory management says encouraging women to join the workforce is also a conscious effort. &ldquo;We try to help the women we hire as much as possible so they can stand shoulder to shoulder with men,&rdquo; Kashif Rashid, the factory&rsquo;s production in charge, said. &ldquo;Women perform very well in maintaining quality, especially in the kind of garments we produce.&rdquo; According to management, the precision required for products such as undergarments often makes female workers particularly well-suited for the task. &ldquo;Quality is our standard,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;When it comes to our products, women often perform even better than men, which is why we give them preference whenever possible.&rdquo; Faisalabad is widely known as the backbone of Pakistan&rsquo;s textile sector, producing everything from yarn and fabric to finished garments. Behind these industries and exports are skilled workers whose dedication sustains the country&rsquo;s manufacturing strength. On International Women&rsquo;s Day, the story of these women reflects a broader reality: across Pakistan, women continue to play an increasingly important role in economic progress, contributing their talent, resilience and determination to industries that drive the nation forward. Their work may happen inside factory walls, but their impact reaches far beyond them, strengthening families, communities and the country&rsquo;s economic future.

Women garment workers operate sewing machines at a textile unit in Faisalabad, the industrial hub of Pakistan, producing clothing for local and international markets

Culture

On International Women’s Day, the dedication of women garment workers in Faisalabad highlights their vital role in Pakistan’s textile industry, where skill, resilience and hard work support families, strengthen communities and contribute to the country’s economic progress.

Women power Pakistan’s textile industry with skill, dedication and resilience

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Afghan women encounter significant obstacles to legal recourse and are almost four times less likely than men to access formal justice systems, according to a new United Nations report published Sunday. Released on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/cup-of-courage-celebrating-womens-resilience-in-dhaka-streets" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Women&rsquo;s Day</a>, the UN findings on access to Formal Justice Mechanisms detail a growing crisis under Afghanistan&#39;s de facto authorities. The gap leaves women without safe avenues to resolve disputes, hold abusers accountable, or seek protection from violence. Barriers to dispute resolution weaken institutional trust and increase vulnerability for both communities and individuals, according to Georgette Gagnon, officer in charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Access to justice remains a fundamental right and a cornerstone of safety and dignity, according to UN Women Special Representative Susan Ferguson. &ldquo;Excluding women from justice institutions damages their autonomy and removes rare opportunities to seek outside help, particularly for those facing domestic violence,&rdquo; Ferguson said. Only 14% of consulted women reported access to formal dispute resolution services, according to the data. In contrast, 53% of men reported having access. UN Women, UNAMA, and the International Organization for Migration conducted nationwide in-person and online consultations in December 2025, according to the report. These consultations reached more than 800&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-government-instituted-systematic-institutionalized-campaign-to-erase-afghan-women-un-experts" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan women</a>&nbsp;and 160 men. More than half of the consulted women reported worsening access to formal justice mechanisms over the past year. Women attributed the decline to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-calls-on-taliban-to-lift-ban-on-afghan-women-in-its-offices" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan Taliban</a>&nbsp;suspending key mechanisms, including the Ministry of Women&rsquo;s Affairs and Afghanistan&rsquo;s Independent Human Rights Commission. The exclusion of female legal professionals and the loss of women-centered services also contributed to this decline, the report observed. Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government issued &ldquo;decree no. 12&rdquo; on discretionary punishments to courts earlier this year. According to the findings, this decree created additional obstacles for women seeking protection or accountability. Women also have significantly lower access to informal dispute-resolution mechanisms, such as traditional community councils known as jirgas (tribal councils) and shuras (religious councils). This limitation further restricts their ability to mediate disputes. Consultation participants requested actions to strengthen institutional mechanisms that protect access to justice. Participants in the report called for the re-establishment of women-led dispute-resolution systems, including women-only community committees. They also requested support for affordable centers providing confidential legal, psychosocial, and protection assistance. The 2026 global theme for International Women&rsquo;s Day is &quot;Rights, Justice, Action. For all Women and Girls,&quot; according to the UN. This theme demands the dismantling of barriers to equal justice, including discriminatory laws and harmful social norms, according to the report.

Women in Afghanistan are nearly four times less likely than men to have access to formal justice mechanisms. (UNICEF/Osman Khayyam)

Afghanistan

A UN report says Afghan women face severe barriers to justice, with only 14% able to access formal mechanisms. Afghan Taliban policies, dismantled institutions, and exclusion from councils worsen protection, leaving women vulnerable to violence.

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN

ISLAMABAD: On International Women&rsquo;s Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised &ldquo;Nari Shakti&rdquo; (Women Power), and official communications emphasized &ldquo;women-led development.&rdquo; However, data from India reveals a more unequal reality. This year&#39;s theme is &ldquo;Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,&rdquo; but for millions of Indian women, these rights are not fully realized in their everyday lives.&nbsp;The latest official crime data from India shows that violence against women remains widespread. The country recorded 445,256 crimes against women in 2022, or roughly 51 cases every hour, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.&nbsp; The largest category was cruelty by husbands or relatives, underlining how gender inequality is often most visible inside the home, not just in public spaces. The story of Kajal Sharma, the 27-year-old female SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) commando, beaten to death by her husband in January, is one of the most recent unfortunate cases of this, which got highlighted at the national level. Another form of violence against women, which takes us back to the dark ages, is female infanticide. Since the BJP came to power, official statistics have either not been reported at all or have been grossly misrepresented.&nbsp; In 2015, India&#39;s Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that approximately 2,000 girls are killed every day in the country, but the National Crime Records Bureau reported only 100 deaths due to infanticide per year.&nbsp; There are reports of entire villages in India that have no women across generations. The government, however, chooses to keep mum over the matter and gaslight with slogans like &ldquo;Nari Shakti.&rdquo; The inequality also runs through the economy and politics. In 2025, the World Economic Forum said India shows especially weak performance in women&rsquo;s economic participation and political empowerment.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s own labor survey points in the same direction. The Periodic Labor Force Survey 2023-24 reported female labor-force participation at 35.6%, far below the male rate of 77.5%. Meanwhile, the World Bank&rsquo;s &quot;Women, Business and the Law 2024&quot; report gave India a score of 74.4 out of 100, with poor marks on pay and parenthood-related protections.&nbsp;So on a day of celebration and official praise, the irony is hard to miss: India speaks the language of women&rsquo;s empowerment, but the numbers still show women fighting for safety, equal opportunity, and full rights.

India

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised 'Women Power' on International Women’s Day, data on violence, low female workforce participation, weak legal protections, and persistent inequality show that millions of women in India still lack safety, equality, and full rights.

On International Women’s Day, India’s gender reality tells another story

Muhammad Ibrahim

DHAKA: On the bustling outskirts of Dhaka, where roadside dhabas (eateries) line every street, one small tea stall stands out, not just for its aroma but for the remarkable woman behind it. Samat Chamsunaha, modestly dressed and often seated with her toddler by her side, has been running her tea and paan shop for five years, serving up Tandoori Chai, Tandoori Malai Chai, Titul Chai, Matka Chai, and sweets. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Samat said, &ldquo;Our Matka Chai is the most popular. Tandoori and Masala Chai are also loved by many. We started this business in a lot of empty space, but now it has become crowded, especially on Fridays to Sundays. When there are many people, it is difficult to move around.&rdquo; In a street dominated by male vendors, Samat is the only woman running a tea stall, a rarity that has not gone unnoticed by her customers. &lsquo;We love coming here&rsquo;A group of young friends told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;We love coming here. She is quite hospitable and friendly, always smiling, and treats every visitor with great respect.&rdquo; Her warm demeanor and genuine hospitality have turned her shop into a community hub where families and youngsters gather, relax, and spend time together. &ldquo;In Ramzan, most of the shops are closed. Only two shops are open&mdash;Nanabai and Ramadukhan. During this month, it becomes even more crowded,&rdquo; she added, highlighting how her business continues to thrive even when others shutter their doors. Women&rsquo;s role in Bangladesh&rsquo;s economySamat&rsquo;s story mirrors the broader contribution of women to Bangladesh&rsquo;s economy. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, women&rsquo;s unpaid labor, including caregiving and household work, contributes an estimated $46.8 billion, roughly 14&ndash;17% of GDP if formally recognized. Women also make up 88% of total unpaid work, showing their crucial yet often invisible economic role. Moreover, female participation in the formal labor force has been steadily increasing, particularly in urban areas and entrepreneurial ventures, signaling social and economic transformation. Experts estimate that if women&rsquo;s participation in the labor market grows, Bangladesh&rsquo;s GDP could increase by up to 29%. Samat is not just serving tea; she is defying social norms and inspiring her community. Her humble stall has become a space where people feel valued and welcomed. Symbol of&nbsp;resilience By smiling through early mornings, managing a business and caring for her child, she embodies the quiet yet profound power of women&rsquo;s empowerment. As she said herself, &ldquo;This place is usually crowded, especially on Friday to Sunday. On Fridays, we see more visitors, and it boosts our sales on Saturdays. Sundays also bring in more customers, which increases sales on Sundays.&rdquo; Her words are simple, yet they reveal the resilience, dedication, and impact of women like Samat who quietly shape the economic and social landscape of Bangladesh. On this International Women&rsquo;s Day, Samat Chamsunaha is more than a tea seller; she is a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and community spirit, proving that even small ventures can inspire big change.

Bangladesh

On this International Women’s Day, Samat Chamsunaha is more than a tea seller; she is a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and community spirit, proving that even small ventures can inspire big change.

Articles tagged with "International Women's Day"

Women power Pakistan’s textile industry with skill, dedication and resilience

Formal justice eludes Afghan women under Taliban authorities: UN

On International Women’s Day, India’s gender reality tells another story

Cup of courage: Celebrating women’s resilience in Dhaka streets

Women power Pakistan’s textile industry with skill, dedication and resilience