Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): International Day of Women and Girls in Science is being observed today (Tuesday) across the globe including Pakistan.
This year's theme of the day is "Charting Progress to Shape the Future: The Best is Yet to Come".
Gender equality in science is crucial for building a better future for all, yet women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and biases in pursuing scientific careers.
In his message on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that empowering women and girls in science is a national priority and an all out effort is being made to create an enabling environment and providing equal opportunities, to ensure that women become key drivers of progress and innovation in the 21st century.
According to a Prime Minister’s (PM) Office news release, quoting the premier the government acknowledges the remarkable contributions of women and girls in shaping the world through scientific discovery, innovation, and leadership.
PM Shehbaz said that this said this year’s theme, “Charting Progress to Shape the Future: The Best is Yet to Come”, is a reminder of the strides the nation had made and the work that lied ahead in building an inclusive, innovative, and equitable future.
He said that participation of men and women in scientific research and technological advancement is essential for economic development and societal well-being.
“However, women have long been under represented in science and technology. This has created a significant gender gap in these vital fields,” the premier noted.
According to the the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS), the prime minister said women constitute less than 30% of the world’s researchers, and in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, the number drops to just 22%.
Recognizing that the future depends on innovation and technological progress, the Government of Pakistan has prioritized programs that focus on skill development, support for women-led start-ups, and greater access to research funding, PM Shehbaz Sharif said and added that the initiatives included training in robotics, AI, and digital solutions, scholarships and programs encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.