FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF PAKISTAN’S WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM AND SMOKELESS CHULAH

Abstract

One definition of women’s empowerment is the ability of women to exercise their choices over their minds, bodies and lives. Empowerment also implies the capacity to not only improve their situation, but also to take the initiative to help others in the community. In a country where 76 percent of the population lives in the rural areas, a majority of women are engaged in child rearing, fetching water, preparing food, gathering fuel and working in the fields. In most cases they silently bear oppression, illiteracy and poor health standards.