Comments on "Women, Development Planning and Government Policies in Pakistan".

Commentary on Shahnaz and Bilquees Razas paper on women in development in Pakistan is supportive of the content analysis of the Sixth and Seventh 5-Year Plans and policies but critical of the methods used n the analysis. The parallel to survey research methods was made in that there was a specification of 1) the unit of analysis (reference to each policy measure each chapter each page of the plan) 2) the rationale for the plan 3) specific objectives of the examination and 4) the criteria for analysis. Missing also was the identification of policy trends from the Fourth and Fifth 5-Year Plans. The question is never answered as to why gender issues were not directed to the agricultural sector. The conclusion that there was a hugh gap between intentions and implementation was an issue not unique to womens issues and a deeper analysis may have been required in order to understand the nature and magnitude of the gaps for womens policies and their productive roles. Questions should have been directed to the issues of the root causes of gaps in planning and implementation of policies and programs for women in development and the identification of quantitative and qualitative indicators of gaps. Questions arise as to whether the gaps have changed with changes in the strength of political and social will in various decades. Recognition was given by the authors to the low budget allocations between 1955 and 1970 to education and health which affected both men and women but there was scant mention of the strong social not political will to enhance womens welfare prevalent at this time. Information was lacking on the differences between the Sixth and Seventh sectoral plans for agricultural employment and women and the working groups plans that did include women in agricultural employment; the question is why the working plans were not incorporated into the final plans and why the working groups did not protest this omission. The lack of political and social will was one of the most significant gaps between policy and implementation that was the articles focus. Has the Ministry of Women in Development really been given administrative authority to promote social change?