ISLAMABAD: This year gender gap has narrowed down slightly across the world, but in Pakistan it appears to have widened, a report said. The ‘Global Gender Gap Report 2013‘ published by the World Economic Forum on Friday placed Pakistan at 135th in a list of 136 countries. According to the report, gender gap continued to widen in Pakistan, which was ranked 134th in 2012 and 132nd in 2010. The gender gap index shows zero percentage in terms of women in top management positions in Pakistani firms. Similarly, there is zero per cent share of women on boards of listed companies. However, female participation in ownership of companies is 7 percent. The percentage of men having an account in a formal financial institution is 17 percent as compared to 3 percent for women. The report says that male adult unemployment rate in Pakistan is 4 percent of the total male employment while female adult unemployment rate is 9 percent of the female labour force.
11 Taliban rebels surrender arms
Kabul: At least 11 Taliban rebels surrendered with arms to the Afghan authorities in the country’s Nangarhar province, a source said yesterday. “An 11-member group of armed opponents gave up fighting and handed over their arms to the authorities in Shinwar district Sunday,” Malik Nazir, provincial High Peace Council chief, told Xinhua. Peace and stability would be further strengthened in several parts of the province with the insurgents’ surrender, he added. The Afghan government set up a 70-member High Peace Council and launched the peace and reconciliation process in 2010 to encourage Taliban to disarm and give up militancy against the government. Over the past week, more than 40 Taliban fighters joined the process across the country, officials said.
Bomb kills soldier in NW Pakistan
MIRANSHAH: A bomb killed a soldier and wounded three others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border yesterday, officials said. The explosion took place at Chashma Pul, 2km east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan tribal region. An official said security forces also defused two bombs planted at different locations in Mir Ali town.
Agencies
