SHIFTING TRENDS OF WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN: A STUDY WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON SINDH PROVINCE

This  paper  focuses  on  women’s  political  participation  in  local  government in Pakistan. The  argument  is  based  on  the  data  and  information  collected  form  secondary  sources of  data  such  as  books,  research  reports,  official statistics,  papers,  internet,  etc.  Firstly, the  paper  describes  the  history of women’s participation at the local government level of politics in Pakistan in a chronological order. Secondly, it highlights the changing patterns of quota allocation for women at this lowest tier of formal political institution in the country. It also explains the effects of enhanced quota on increasing women’s participation in local government councils. It further highlights the shifting pattern of women’s political participation form elite women’s exclusive participation in politics to opening doors of political forums at this lowest level for non elite, less educated women coming from low income groups in the country.