Pakistani women in STEM

Pakistan has one of the highest gender gaps in the world, and it is the third least performer in gender parity according to a report published by World Economic Forum in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Global Gender Gap Report 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104203411/https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality |archive-date=4 November 2020 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}} The low literacy rate of women in Pakistan, despite women making almost half the population, is one of the factors in a high gender gap in STEM fields. This literacy rate is even lower in science and technology.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Council for Science & Technology |url=https://www.pcst.org.pk/wst/wst_wsci.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216134305/http://www.pcst.org.pk/wst/wst_wsci.php |archive-date=16 February 2020 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=www.pcst.org.pk}}

According to UNESCO, among students enrolled in bachelor's degrees, 47% are women while 53% are men. The number of women pursuing doctoral studies is only 36%, while the percentage of men is 64%. There is also a significant gender gap in research sector, with women making only 34% of researchers.

Among students in universities, the field of natural sciences is reported to have only 40% women students, while medical sciences have 45%, engineering has 21% and agricultural sciences have only 12%.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2019 |title=National Dialogue on Women in Science - Pakistan |url=https://en.unesco.org/events/national-dialogue-women-science-pakistan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120235120/https://en.unesco.org/events/national-dialogue-women-science-pakistan |archive-date=20 November 2020 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=UNESCO |language=en}}

According to the World Economic Forum, only 4.9% of engineering jobs are held by women in Pakistan. The numbers are particularly low in the energy sector with only 3%  female engineers in the power transmission sector. The field of artificial intelligence has also seen few numbers of women engineers, with only 22% part of the workforce.{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Amin |date=19 December 2018 |title=Pakistan among worst performers on gender equality: WEF |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1452284 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111193517/https://www.dawn.com/news/1452284 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

Efforts have been done by the government of Pakistan as well as women who are part of STEM fields, to reduce the wide gender gap in STEM. Since 2018, the government of Pakistan has worked to improve wage equality and its position on educational attainment index.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan fares badly on gender gap index |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/585465-pakistan-fares-badly-on-gender-gap-index |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219182227/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/585465-pakistan-fares-badly-on-gender-gap-index |archive-date=19 December 2019 |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} Workplace sexual harassment laws have also been made to encourage women to become part of the workforce in both STEM fields as well as non STEM fields.{{Cite web |date=12 February 2019 |title=Workplace harassment law in Pakistan |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/353990/workplace-harassment-law-in-pakistan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213132520/https://dailytimes.com.pk/353990/workplace-harassment-law-in-pakistan/ |archive-date=13 February 2019 |access-date=8 November 2020 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}} Many private organizations like Women in tech, [https://www.womenengineers.pk/ Women Engineers Pakistan] have been founded to encourage STEM education in women.

Some notable Pakistani women contributing to STEM are:

• Nergis Mavalvala : is Pakistani-American physicist known for her breakthrough research in gravitational waves detection in 2015.{{Cite web|title=MIT Department of Physics|url=https://web.mit.edu/physics/people/faculty/mavalvala_nergis.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=web.mit.edu}}{{Cite web|title=Nergis Mavalvala named School of Science dean|url=https://news.mit.edu/2020/nergis-mavalvala-science-dean-0817|access-date=2020-11-26|website=MIT News {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology|language=en}} She has also received the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Award in 2010.{{Cite web|title=Nergis Mavalvala: inspiration for all Pakistanis|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/705042-nergis-mavalvala-inspiration-for-all-pakistanis|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} Nergis became the first female Dean of school of sciences at MIT in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-18|title=Pakistan-born astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala named dean of MIT School of Science|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1575089|access-date=2020-11-26|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Nergis Mavalvala {{!}} Albright Institute|url=https://www.wellesley.edu/albright/about/faculty/nergis-mavalvala|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.wellesley.edu}}
• Tasneem Zehra Husain : is theoretical physicist and among the few Pakistani women to obtain a doctorate in physics.{{Cite web|title=Tasneem Zehra Husain PD|url=https://ice.dartmouth.edu/tasneem-zehra-husain-pd|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Institute for Cross Disciplinary Engagement At Dartmouth|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Pakistan's First Female String Theorist Publishes Novel On Scientific Discovery|url=https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2014/12/03/longest-threads|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}} She is also the first Pakistani woman working on string theory. Husain has represented Pakistan at the Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany and led the Pakistan team to the World Year of Physics (WYP) Launch Conference in Paris.{{Cite web|title=Meet Dr Tasneem Husain – Pakistan's first woman string theorist {{!}} SAMAA|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2019/05/meet-dr-tasneem-husain-pakistans-first-woman-string-theorist/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Samaa TV|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Sarwar|first=Mahrukh|date=2016-12-02|title=Inside the life of Pakistan's first female string theorist|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1300054|access-date=2020-11-26|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}
• Asma Zaheer : is computer scientist and the first Pakistani to receive "the best of IBM award, 2019".{{Cite web |title=Pakistani woman scientist Asma Zaheer honoured with IBM's highest award |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/475699-pakistani |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107232538/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/475699-pakistani |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}
• Azra Quraishi : She was a botanist who is credited for increasing potato yield by 5% in Pakistan.{{Cite web|title=Pakissan.com; Tissue culture: a getaway to genetic engineering|url=https://www.pakissan.com/english/advisory/tissue.culture.genetic.engg.shtml|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.pakissan.com}} This improved Pakistan's position in trade and brought Azra, national recognition. She was awarded the Norman Borlaug Award in 1997.{{Cite web|last=PARC|date=|title=Azra Quraishi|url=http://www.parc.gov.pk/index.php/en/borluag-awards/124-borluag/468-norman-borlaug-award-for-dr-azra-quraishi|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}{{Cite web|last=pakbs|date=|title=Pakistan journal of Botany - Azra Quraishi|url=http://www.pakbs.org/pjbot/abstracts/35(1)/01.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}
• Arfa Karim : was a computer prodigy who became the youngest person to become a Microsoft certified Professional in 2004.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-14|title=Remembering Arfa Karim: a computer prodigy|url=https://nation.com.pk/14-Jan-2020/remembering-arfa-karim-a-computer-prodigy|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Nation|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2012-01-14|title=Arfa Karim passes away: Whiz kid loses battle for her life|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/321610/child-prodigy-aarifa-karim-loses-race-for-her-life|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}} She was personally invited by Bill Gates to the Microsoft headquarters in USA. Arfa was also named in the Guinness book of world records.{{Cite news|date=2012-01-18|title=Arfa Randhawa death: Pakistan mourns IT girl genius|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16599781|access-date=2020-11-26}}{{Cite web|title=Arfa Karim {{!}} Pakistan Today|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/tag/arfa-karim/|access-date=2020-11-26|language=en-GB}}
• Mariam Sultana : is an astrophysicist. She became the first female astrophysicist in Pakistan after she obtained her PhD in 2012.{{Cite web|date=2012-07-27|title=First Pakistani woman to earn PhD in astrophysics fought red tape|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/413930/first-pakistani-woman-to-earn-phd-in-advanced-astrophysics-fought-red-tape-right-wingers|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Siegel|first=Ethan|date=2015-09-03|title=Throwback Thursday: Pakistan's First Female Astrophysics Ph.D.|url=https://medium.com/starts-with-a-bang/throwback-thursday-pakistan-s-first-female-astrophysics-ph-d-f018c70b5770|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Medium|language=en}}
• Talat Shahnaz Rahman is a condensed matter physicist. Her research topics include surface phenomena and excited media, including catalysis, vibrational dynamics, and magnetic excitations.{{Cite web|title=Professor Talat S. Rahman {{!}} Department of Physics {{!}} University of Central Florida|url=https://physics.ucf.edu/~talat/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=physics.ucf.edu}}{{Cite web|last=researchgate|date=|title=Talat Rahman|url=https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Talat-Rahman-Lab|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}
• Aban Markar Kabraji: is a biologist and scientist of Parsi origin.{{Cite web|title=Interview: Aban Marker Kabraji|url=https://newslinemagazine.com/magazine/interview-aban-marker-kabraji/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Newsline|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Aban Marker Kabraji|url=https://www.climate-change.tv/tag/aban-marker-kabraji|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.climate-change.tv}} She is a regional director of the Asia Regional Office of IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.{{Cite web|date=2018-08-14|title=Perspectives on Pakistan from Asia Regional Director Aban Marker Kabraji|url=https://www.iucn.org/news/asia/201808/perspectives-pakistan-asia-regional-director-aban-marker-kabraji|access-date=2020-11-26|website=IUCN|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Aban Marker Kabraji {{!}} Al Jazeera News|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/author/aban_marker_kabraji_170307110244833|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}} She was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for her outstanding contribution and dedication to the cause of environmental protection, sustainable development and nature conservation.{{Cite web|date=2018-03-19|title=IUCN Asia Regional Director nominated for prestigious Pakistan Civil Award|url=https://www.iucn.org/news/pakistan/201803/iucn-asia-regional-director-nominated-prestigious-pakistan-civil-award|access-date=2020-11-26|website=IUCN|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-03-17|title=Aban Marker-Kabraji Conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz Award|url=https://zoroastrians.net/2018/03/17/aban-marker-kabraji-conferred-tamgha-i-imtiaz-award/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Zoroastrians.net|language=en-US}}
• Asifa Akhtar: is a biologist who has worked in the area of chromosomes.{{Cite web|title=Asifa Akhtar interview {{!}} Abcam|url=https://www.abcam.com/epigenetics/scientist-of-the-month-asifa-akhtar|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.abcam.com}} She became the first international female vice president of the biology and medicine section at Germany's prestigious Max Planck Society.{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Monitoring|date=2020-07-15|title=Pakistan-born scientist becomes first woman to head section at renowned body|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1569093|access-date=2020-11-26|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Pak scientist gets rare honour in Germany|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/687556-pak-scientist-gets-rare-honour|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} Asifa has also been awarded the European Life Science Organization (ELSO) award.{{Cite web|title=Professor Asifa Akhtar|url=https://www.feldbergfoundation.org/prizewinners/resume/asifa_akhtar.htm|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.feldbergfoundation.org}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-11|title=Making history, Pakistan born Asifa to lead biology, at Max Planck Society|url=https://www.technologytimes.pk/2020/07/11/making-history-pakistan-born-asifa-to-lead-biology-medicine-at-max-planck-society/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Technology Times|language=en-US}}
• Farzana Aslam: is a physicist and astronomer. She has worked in the area of polymer composite sensitized with semiconductor nanoparticles, photon and laser sciences.{{Cite web|date=2011-02-18|title=Dr Farzana Aslam - Coventry University|url=http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cu/engineeringandcomputing/mathematicalsciences/staff/a/4803|access-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218071840/http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cu/engineeringandcomputing/mathematicalsciences/staff/a/4803|archive-date=2011-02-18}} For her contributions, Farzana was awarded a commendation award at the Photon 04 conference held by Institute of Physics at Glasgow.{{Cite web|title=GIFT University|url=https://www.gift.edu.pk/home/news/meeting-with-delegation-from-coventry-university|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.gift.edu.pk}}{{Cite web|title=Search for people {{!}} The University of Manchester|url=https://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/advanced.php?dn=cn=Farzana+Aslam+umanroleid=58941,ou=School+of+Physics+&+Astronomy,ou=Faculty+of+Science+and+Engineering,ou=People,o=University+of+Manchester,c=GB&action=read&form_input=Submit|access-date=2020-11-26|website=personalpages.manchester.ac.uk}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.womenintechpk.com/about-us/ Women in Tech]

Category:Women in science and technology

Category:Employment by country

Category:Statistics of education

Category:Women's education in Pakistan