Karachi
Women, girls, and sectors like health, education, and agriculture in Sindh province are heavily affected by the control of feudal and tribal leaders who dominate legislative assemblies and bureaucratic institutions, as reported by sources.
During a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Akram Ali Khaskheli, President of the Hari Welfare Association, stated that rural women face severe victimization and injustice due to the lack of enforcement of laws supporting peasants and rural workers.
Khaskheli highlighted that the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 2015 is not properly enforced, forcing peasants to seek court intervention to free family members from landlords each year. Between 2014 and 2023, 12,116 bonded laborers were freed from the agricultural sector, with 33% being women. These women suffered economic exploitation, physical abuse, and were denied basic rights like education, voting, and choosing their husbands.
Despite the creation of district vigilance committees under the Act, Khaskheli noted that they have failed to effectively rescue bonded laborers or support those released by local courts. Samina Khaskheli, joint secretary of the Azad Hariani Labour Union, added that agricultural and female workers earn less than PKR 10,000 per month for 12-hour workdays, far below the government’s minimum wage of PKR 37,000.
A report by sources also indicated that women farmers in Sindh lack access to financial resources, loans, and modern farming technology, limiting them to traditional methods.
