ISLAMABAD, June 13: There is a strong need to strengthen the link between research and policy-making which has never been given due consideration in the country. This was stated by participants at the launching ceremony of a book Gender and empowerment: evidence from Pakistan authored by a team of economists at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) led by Dr Rehana Siddiqui here on Tuesday.

There was a consensus among the gathering that there had been quality research in the country but it never reflected in the policy-making at any level.

Dr Aliya H. Khan, Associate Professor at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), said the country had witnessed similar gender disparities underlined in the book.

“We need well thought-out policy interventions which is only possible if the nexus between research and policy making is strong enough to go side by side - be it specifically for engendering government policy making or overall national level development,” she said.

Being appreciative of the effort, she said all chapters of the book had correlation which somehow have roots in socio-cultural context of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, the executive director Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, said the authors had taken up an important issue of society.

The authors have attempted to provide a comprehensive analysis of conventional and non-conventional indicators of gender in one place. However, she said, the book should have been updated with the most recent data.

This information is critical to understand society and its development. The policy makers can determine appropriate interventions to improve the conditions of women. She also called for the need to create a strong relationship between such work and its bearing on the policy making, because in the end government mattered.

Dr Rehana Siddiqui said the book presented secondary and survey-based evidence to examine several aspects of the role and status of women in society.

The book covers all important issues related to health, education, labour market, violence, empowerment and mental health of women.

The analysis shows that parental education affects the education of children, particularly of girls. Moreover, education also affects access to labour market and female status within the household and the community. She also pointed out that education and work status were also critical determinants of empowerment and mental health. The hierarchy within the family is an important determinant of family income and resource use. She pointed out that in most cases the mother or mother-in-law controlled income and not the daughter or daughter-in-law.

Dr Nadeemul Haq, director PIDE, emphasised the need for increasing interaction among researchers, policy makers and intelligentsia of society.