DUBAI (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan's First Lady and member of the National Assembly, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, spoke in detail at the Global Women's Forum in Dubai about the complexities of women's leadership, struggles in public health, and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
There are two great powers in the world: one is the sword and the other is the pen, but there is a third power greater than both: our women.
My message to young women is to believe in themselves, stand firm on their principles, and never underestimate the power of their voice, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari pic.twitter.com/DYF78F04lb— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) November 28, 2024
Dual responsibilities in leadership
For Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, balancing two different roles, as First Lady and as a member of the National Assembly, is a significant challenge. On the one hand, her ceremonial role requires careful diplomacy and a limited public profile. On the other, her parliamentary role gives her opportunities to pursue legal reform, speak on public issues and empower marginalised groups.
Highlighting the problems faced by women leaders, Aseefa told the forum that women constantly face unwarranted criticism and stereotypes. Such attitudes undermine their role and performance, and also promote gender inequality.
Challenges of social expectations
Double standards for women leaders still exist today. They are expected to prove their competence while also fulfilling traditional roles. These standards force women to keep reassuring others about their ability, while male leaders remain free of such constraints.
In a conservative society such as Pakistan, these challenges are even more pronounced. Aseefa highlighted that women, however many professional successes they achieve, must always prove that they can also fulfil traditional domestic responsibilities.
The legacy of leadership
Aseefa's leadership is tied to the legacy of her mother, Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's first woman prime minister. Benazir faced severe hardships in her political life, but always overcame them with dignity, composure and resolve.
For Aseefa, this legacy is both a source of inspiration and a standard. Her mother's example guides her on her own leadership journey, and she believes that true leadership is not merely a matter of office or privilege, but of service, perseverance and purpose in the cause of justice.
Public health issues and vaccine misinformation
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has worked on public health issues, continuing her family's decades-long struggle against polio. Misinformation about vaccines and resistance in conservative communities complicate the campaign.
She explained how some clerics spread baseless rumours against vaccines, which damaged public trust and even led to deadly attacks on health workers. These obstacles affect public health efforts not only in Pakistan but across the world.
Aseefa has continued her campaign against these challenges, has spread awareness of the effectiveness of vaccines, and has advocated reform of the public health system.
Women as a force for change
During her speech, Aseefa presented women as a force for social change. She said that women should be recognised not as secondary participants but as equal partners.
Echoing the vision of Pakistan's founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Aseefa described the role of women as vital to national development. Her message was clear: empowering women is not only a moral responsibility but also a strategic necessity for sustainable development and progress.∎
