Russia Allows Headscarves in Passport Photos
Moscow has announced a significant relaxation in regulations governing applications by foreign nationals seeking Russian citizenship, particularly concerning passport photographs. The Russian Interior Ministry revealed last Wednesday that, effective May 5, applicants will be permitted to wear headscarves and hijabs in their passport photos, aligning with religious beliefs while adhering to specific guidelines. The new […]
Male Family Members No Longer Solely Decide Bride’s Nikkah Terms
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a landmark verdict challenging the longstanding cultural norm of male dominance in determining terms and conditions on behalf of brides. In a 10-page judgment led by Justices Aminud Din Khan and Athar Minallah, the court emphasized the need to empower brides in negotiating Nikahnama terms to ensure free […]
Fauzia Janjua, Makes History as Mayor of Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Fauzia Janjua, a Pakistani-American woman, has shattered barriers by being sworn in as the Mayor of Mount Laurel in New Jersey, USA. The swearing-in ceremony, marked by a sense of pride and community, saw Janjua taking the oath alongside her husband and four sons, holding a Quran. The oath was administered by Carol Murphy, a […]
Revolution on Wheels: Women Drivers Transforming Transit in Pakistan
In a pioneering move aimed at enhancing gender inclusivity in the public transport sector, 18 women are set to graduate from Pakistan’s first-ever training initiative for female bus drivers. Launched by the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA), a subsidiary of the Sindh government, the program seeks to increase women’s representation in the workforce. The training, […]
Defiant Educator, Maryam Challenges Taliban Ban to Teach Girls in Secret
In the face of Taliban-enforced restrictions on women’s education in Afghanistan, a courageous woman operating under the pseudonym Maryam is defying the ban, teaching girls and women in secret. The biggest hurdle she faces is not just the security risks or unreliable internet connections, but the pervasive sense of despair that threatens to overshadow the […]
9-Year-Old Lama Abu Jams, the Palestinian Journalist Reporting from Gaza’s Frontlines
In the midst of Israel’s brutal bombardment, while the world focuses on the alleged ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians, courageous Palestinian journalists, including photographers like Motaz Azaiza and Al Jazeera’s Wael Al-Dahdouh, are busy reporting the harsh realities of life in Gaza. Among them is 9-year-old Palestinian journalist lama Jamous, who, at a tender age, is […]
Disclosing the Hidden Crisis: Domestic Violence Surges in Pakistan During the Pandemic
The rise of domestic violence in Pakistan was recently brought to the attention of a study report released by the Asian Development Bank. A silent pandemic is as tough a nut to crack for society and the state. Entitled ‘Gendered Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Central and West Asia,’ the study alerts us to a sharp […]
Women’s Safety Crisis
Disturbing reports reveal an alarming surge in the abduction and trafficking of women, marking 2023 as a year of crisis in the provincial capital of Punjab. Shockingly, the year witnessed over 9,500 reported cases of kidnapping, painting a grim picture of women’s safety in the region. Authorities are grappling with the magnitude of the issue […]
Pakistani-American Rebel Hamna Zafar Joins U.S. Air Force To Escape Cousin Marriage
Hamna Zafar, a Pakistani-American girl, defied her family’s wishes for an arranged marriage in Pakistan to pursue inclusion in the U.S. Air Force. According to a report from an American magazine, Hamna’s story unfolds as a captivating tale of resistance against familial and cultural pressures, showcasing her individual aspirations at the age of just 19. […]
70% of Female Engineering Graduates in Pakistan are Unemployed or Inactive
A recent study conducted by Gallup Pakistan and PRIDE, analyzing the Labour Force Survey 2020-21, has revealed a disheartening situation for female engineering graduates in Pakistan. Shockingly, a staggering 70% of these highly qualified individuals find themselves either unemployed or outside the labor force. Out of a total of 28,920 female engineering graduates, only 8,146, […]