History of National Women's Day (Pakistan) in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 9, 2024

National Women's Day in Pakistan is celebrated on February 12th to commemorate the first women's march against General Zia ul Haq's military regime in 1983. This march, advocating for women's rights, was violently suppressed by the martial law authorities. This day holds significant importance in Pakistan's women's rights history and precedes International Women's Day by over three weeks, coinciding with the timing of the Aurat Marches in Pakistan.

February 1983: Women's March Against Discriminatory Laws

On February 1983, approximately 100 women, led by the Women's Action Forum (WAF) and the Punjab Women Lawyers Association, marched from Mall Road towards Lahore High Court. The protest targeted discriminatory laws, including the proposed Law of Evidence, which aimed to devalue women's testimonies in court, and the Hudood Ordinances, seen as curtailing women's rights through the implementation of Sharia law. The peaceful demonstration was met with police brutality, involving tear gas and baton charges, injuring many and leading to the arrest of 50 participants for defying the ban on public assembly.

February 1983: First Women's March in Pakistan

On February 1983, the first women's march in Pakistan took place. The march, organized to protest against Zia ul Haq's military regime, was met with police brutality and suppression.

1983: Establishment of National Women's Day in Pakistan

In 1983, Pakistan established National Women's Day to commemorate the first women's march that occurred on February 12th of the same year.

1983: Release of 'Kaun Kehta Hai Beikhtiyar Hoon Main'

On National Women's Day in 1983, a song titled 'Kaun Kehta Hai Beikhtiyar Hoon Main,' by Aaliya Mirza and sung by Zainab Fatima, was released. The song was dedicated to the women who participated in the 1983 Women's March in Lahore.

2010: Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act

The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act was enacted in 2010. This act was a crucial step towards safeguarding women's rights in professional settings.

2012: Recognition of Women's Rights Activists

In 2012, several prominent women, including Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Nilofar Bakhtiar, Bushra Gohar, and Kishwer Zehra, were honored for their work on women's rights related bills.

2013: Commemoration at Fatima Jinnah Park

National Women's Day 2013 was commemorated at Fatima Jinnah Park, featuring awareness stalls about gender-based violence and performances by activists. Women from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA also distributed awards to women journalists, politicians, and activists.

2017: Dialogue on Women's Agenda at FJWU

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) organized a National Women's Day event at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in Rawalpindi in 2017. A dialogue on 'Taking the women's agenda forward between women activists and parliamentarians' was a key part of the event, with addresses by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Samina Amin Qadir and Member of National Assembly Tehmina Daultana.

2019: Events at National Press Club and Lok Virsa

Two major events were held in Islamabad for National Women's Day in 2019. The first, at the National Press Club, saw addresses by Khawar Mumtaz and Kishwar Naheed, acknowledging progress on legal rights while raising concerns over gendered violence. The second event at Lok Virsa focused on the processes for registering complaints regarding workplace harassment, underlining the importance of the 2010 Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act.

2020: Focus on Social Protection and Gender-Based Violence

Karachi's 2020 National Women's Day event emphasized 'Women's social protection in the context of gender-based violence'. Discussions revolved around socio-legal issues, the roles of various organizations in promoting women's status, and combating gender-based violence. In Lahore, commemorative events were held at the Applied Socio-economic Research Resource Centre and Lahore College for Women University, featuring speeches, poetry, and addresses by prominent figures like Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza, Retired Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal, and Women Development Minister Ashifa Riaz Fatyana.

2022: Events Focused on 'Zero Tolerance for Violence'

In 2022, Karachi's National Women's Day event, organized by the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, centered around the theme 'Zero Tolerance for Violence' and was hosted at Frere Hall. Lahore's event took place at the Aurat Foundation office.