Pakistan Archives - Women Speak

10 04, 2023

https://www.archdaily.com/999188/architecture-as-activism-yasmeen-laris-eco-feminist-work?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab&ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

Architecture as Activism: Yasmeen Lari’s Eco-Feminist Work

Karina2023-10-17T15:42:57-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

Yasmeen Lari, a Pakistani woman, has dedicated her life to intersecting architecture and Ecofeminism. She developed the Barefoot Architecture Project to address social, economic, and gender inequities that exist in rural Pakistan through conscious architecture. Due to overarching gender roles, many women play a large role in cooking, cleaning, and caregiving for their families and community. Lari developed the Pakistan Chula, an elevated, cost-effective and smokeless stove made with local mud and plaster. The Pakistan Chula has lowered risk for burns or lung conditions, minimized potential for flood damage, and has brought women dignity while preparing traditional food. In addition to co-constructing the chulahs, Lari also trained the women to create bricks, tiles, and flood-resistant houses using local materials. This has empowered local women to not only socialize and participate more in the community, but also increase their economic stability. Photo Credit: Copyright Yasmeen Lari/Heritage Foundation of Pakistan

6 10, 2022

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/10/06/deep-rooted-gender-inequities-make-women-more-vulnerable-during-climate-disasters

Deep-Rooted Gender Inequities Make Women More Vulnerable During Climate Disasters

Karina2023-12-04T16:22:25-05:00Tags: Pakistan|

Nabila Feroz critically examines the social and economic conditions that impact women and historically underserved groups during disasters. She informs policy makers and communities in understanding the necessity for disaster response and prevention. Feroz found that in the event of disaster, the likelihood of fatal casualties occuring is 14 times higher for women and children than for men. Taking the floods in Pakistan as an example, she lists the social determinants of health and wellbeing that place women at increased risk in disaster situations. These factors include limited access to resources such as education, healthcare, economic circumstances, and cultural barriers. Women in Pakistan were not fully equipped with skills such as navigation, self-defense, or swimming which made it much harder for them to successfully evacuate. Many women in Pakistan are also not able to leave their homes without a male companion or permission from elders, so they have limited experience navigating dilemmas outside of the home. In camps, they are subjected to violence and lack health care that meets their needs, such as menstrual resources and infrastructure for birth. These are only some of the compounding and intersectional challenges that women and children face. Policy makers must take special care to include womens’ concerns in their solutions. Photo Credit: Asianet-Pakistan/Shutterstock

24 03, 2017

http://wafmag.org/2017/03/pink-power-female-rickshaw-drivers-pakistan/

Pink Power: Women Drive Rickshaws In Pakistan

Karina2017-09-24T16:35:56-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

Zar Aslam serves as President of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in Lahore, and also founded of EPFs all-women Rink Rickshaw Initiative transportation service. Providing services to only female clients, the Rink Rickshaw Initiative has become a household name in providing safe, empowering transportation to local women who otherwise face street harassment in public in Lahore. This outcome is a women-led local economy that provides low-carbon transportation and financial independence for female drivers in addition to accessibility, safety, and confidence for commuting women. Photo credit: Pink Rickshaw Scheme

25 01, 2016

http://news.trust.org/item/20160125090817-14eyc

With A Boost, Pakistani Women Grow Tree Seedlings In Home Nurseries

Karina2017-07-11T17:18:42-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

Thanks to a Pakistani government initiative, Robina Gul received the financial support she needed to set up a tree nursery. She now earns a monthly income and is encouraging other women to set up small-scale nurseries. Photo credit: TRF/Aamir Saeed

20 04, 2015

http://news.trust.org//item/20150420090359-4ruel/?source=spotlight

Women Take On Floods And Hunger In Rural Pakistan

Karina2017-07-19T22:07:15-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

In the face of climate change-related flooding and famine in rural Pakistan, the Help Foundation is supporting women like Amina Bibi, a mother of eight and a widow, to plant trees and vegetables. Committees have also been formed to help women fight for their land rights. Photo credit: TRF/Rina Saeed Khan

18 03, 2015

http://worldfishers.org/2015/03/18/tahira-ali-shah-a-martyr-for-water-rights-and-womens-rights/

Tahira Ali Shalah: A Martyr For Water Rights And Women’s Rights

Karina2017-08-26T12:34:19-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

In 2004, para-military forces known as Rangers illegally occupied numerous fresh water bodies in the Indus Delta, Pakistan, depriving local communities of their fishing livelihoods. In need, the fishermen sought the help of Tahira Ali Shah, the the senior vice-chairperson of the Pakistan Fisher-Folk Forum (PFF). Shah helped to break the longstanding gender bias that women should not be on the front lines of political struggle, so that when the day came to stand up to the Rangers, women and men succeeded in reclaiming their waters - shoulder to shoulder. On the eve of International Rivers Day on March 14, 2012, Shah led a historic people’s caravan under the banner “Keep Rivers Free” as part of a year-long campaign to restore the Indus River. Since her death in 2015, Tahira has been remembered for her tireless work.

1 09, 2012

Experts Emphasize Women’s Role in Domestic Water Conservation

Karina2020-10-23T23:11:23-04:00Tags: Pakistan|

Simi Kamal, chairperson of the Hisaar Foundation and Karachi Water Partnership, is an expert on water conservation and its intersections with women’s rights. Under her leadership, a series of workshops and events have been arranged so that housewives in Karachi can better understand the need for conservation as well as learn appropriate conservation techniques. Another water leader, Farzana Saleem, also highlights how water management has traditionally been considered “women’s work” and so women are still the main, albeit informal, water managers in Pakistan. But their voice in these matters has also traditionally been neglected. Thus, the importance of organizations like South Asia Women and Water Network cannot be stressed enough. This organization provides a platform for women across South Asia so that their inputs concerning water management and conservation can be heard by the larger community.