International women day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women – while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. Gender equality ensures equal rights for both men and women. It guarantees the mutual respect and collaboration of both the genders to make the world more equal and more enabled. But unfortunately, the recent global gender gap index shows that gender equality is still a dream and far-fetched idea. Women still are deprived of their basic rights. It is imperative to understand here that women’s rights are not at all different from human rights. These are rights that women should have, the same as men’s rights. Therefore gender equality is mandatory. Because gender equality ensures equal rights to both men and women. It acknowledges their roles in society. We need to realize that gender equality is essential for our social and economic progress. Because the gender-equal world would be harmonious. Women cover half the sky, but when that half sky is overshadowed by dark clouds of inequality, violence, then the world cannot enjoy the equal and enlightening rays of the sun. Both men and women make this society a whole. Society cannot progress with one half, degraded. Pakistan has been ranked 151 out of 153 countries on the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index by WEF. Women in our society still are deprived of their basic, social, economic and political rights. This shows that there is a pressing need to ameliorate this situation by ensuring gender equality. No doubt a few women have availed many opportunities in Pakistan to uplift their status in many fields. We have many women who are ambassadors of our country on many forums. But still, there are many challenges faced by women. Because empowering women socially, financially cannot do alone if the patriarchial chains are not broken. Women, empowered or not empowered, still face many hurdles and obstacles that are framed by the patriarchal society. They cannot enjoy their respectable status and equal rights unless the threads of the biased patriarchal social fabric are not loosened. There is a need for inculcating moral values and enlightenment in society to consider women as equal citizens having equal individual, social, economic rights. There is prejudice in our society against women. They are just always considered the weaker sex, incapable of rationality and pragmatism. Our constitution grants equal rights to both men and women, but unfortunately, they are not implemented. Men and women both are deprived of these rights in Pakistan. But there is no blinking at the fact that women are more vulnerable to traditional social setup and face subjugation and oppression in our society. In Pakistan especially in backward areas, women still are deprived of individual, social, economic and political rights. The global gender gap index report is enough to depict the despondent predicament. The inhumane traditional practices like domestic violence, harassment, forced child marriages, watta satta, honor-killing, rape, depriving of property, injustice, inequality, biased and humiliating attitude at workplaces and wani type practices still linger in our society. Maternal mortality rate, educational backwardness, economic constraints and poor and woeful health condition have exacerbated. And the women who are empowered socially and financially, they still faced challenges by patriarchal culture. These are the issues that need to be addressed in our country. But the dilemma is that these issues get lost amid the nonsensical and controversial assertions. The Aurat march in Pakistan depicts this dilemma. Aurat march refers to protests organized in various cities of Pakistan to observe International women day on march 8,2018 and following years. Aurat march presents a great opportunity and platform for women to raise voice for their rights. It can raise awareness about many social ills and systematic discriminations against women. The women of Pakistan last year raised voice against oppression against them. Many of them highlighted the main issues of women but certain inconceivable and unethical demands and placards misled the actual issues. It has raised the question about the march actually representing the half part of society that faces individual, educational, economic, political violations of rights. Ironically the women of backward areas who are facing subjugation and oppression are unaware of this march. And they were rarely seen demanding their rights. Women are a beautiful creation of God, emblem of love, purity and modesty. Women well educated, enjoying self-esteem, respectable social status, sound health, and equal rights can ensure enlightened and morally strong generations. Islam gave women a respectable and dignified status in society. Therefore women of Pakistan need to realize their worth granted by Islam. They should make this Aurat March productive and constructive by raising their voices for their basic respectable rights. Women of all classes and areas should be given the opportunity to highlight their actual and genuine challenges. It should not degrade the opposite sex. Both men and women are two wheels of the car of our society. Both cannot succeed without each other’s cooperation. A constructive Aurat march would be the one where men and women will together highlight the issues faced by women, acknowledging their differences and accepting their rights and roles in society. Women should not delude the main issues through misleading filthy and disgusting placards and demands, that only spread obscenity and indecency that is against the ethical and moral norms of our society and religion. Let’s not make our society polarized. Let’s make the march constructive to help the uplift of women of our society. Let’s make our society enabled and progressive with every man and woman respecting each other’s role and enjoying their rights as equal citizens. Let’s be equal for equal and make our country more enabled and progressive. Because it can not progress without both men and women striving together for betterment. Therefore It’s time for collective endeavors, shared responsibilities, unbiased efforts and unity, not ego. The writer hails from Abbottabad. She can be reached at rabiahnoor3@gmail.com