CARIAA Working Paper no. 158

This study discusses the socio-economic, cultural, religious and institutional factors that sustain abuse of women. A qualitative approach has been adopted to understand the power-dynamics that prevail at different levels of society in order to draw out perspectives from a wide variety of stakeholders. The locale of the study is the provinces of Punjab (Lahore, Multan, and Khanewal) and Sindh (Karachi, Sukkur, and Hyderabad). The study shows that women face direct, cultural and structural violence through a deeply entrenched system of patriarchy at all tiers of public and private life. The most fundamental challenge women are faced with in Pakistan is violence