The Participation and Contribution of Women in Local Government System in Pakistan: A Case Study of Larkana District

Abstract

participation of women in politics keeps immenseimportance in a democratic state. The process ofdemocracy can never be imagined without women’sparticipation as being the citizens of the state, they areequally responsible for it. Presently women constitute 48%of the total population of Pakistan. Their role in the politicsand national development is highly required andrecommended Local government is the third tier ofgovernment which plays a key role to maintain goodgovernance in the society. It is quite imperative forsustaining democracy to provide equal access and fullparticipation to both men and women on the same footingsin all areas of life in the society, particularly in decisionmaking position. The first Local Government System inPakistan was introduced by General Ayub Khan in 1959, inwhich women were deprived of any participation in the government and were kept away from the politics. Hencethey could not play their part in the politics. After Ayubregime although the Local Government Act 1972 waspromulgated by the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, butit remained inactive and there were no elections held andno representation given to the women. Women’s General Zia. After his long rule, Benazir Bhutto (1988 -90& 1993-96) and Nawaz Sharif (1990- 93 & 1997- 99) tooktwo tenures, each as the Prime minister of Pakistan but theLocal government system could not work satisfactorily. Thegovernment of General Pervez Musharraf awarded 33%participation to the women in the Local Government systemthat was a generous step taken for the first time in thehistory of Pakistan. It brought certainly a positive changein the society as the role of women for the development ofthe nation cannot be overridden completely. The objectiveof this paper is to analyze the participation andcontribution of women in the Local Government System inthe district of Larkana.