The video has been viewed more than 11 million times.
A travel influencer's recent trip to Islamabad has sparked a discussion online about the conspicuous absence of women in public places in Pakistan. Taking to Instagram, the influencer, who goes by the name Princesapolynesia on social media, shared a photo showing various parts of Islamabad, including the airport, busy market areas and popular tourist destinations. However, what was most striking in the clip was not the beauty of the city, but the stark absence of women in public places.
“HELLO ISLAMABAD. The ratio is 1:50 everywhere in this city. Something we immediately noticed when we landed… where were my sisters?” the influencer wrote while sharing the clip.
Watch below:
The influencer shared the film earlier this month. It has since amassed over 173,000 likes and over 11 million views. While some users expressed concerns about safety and the cultural environment in the comments section, others tried to explain the gender disparity in the city.
“This is sad, a society where women are so controlled that you hardly see them on the street,” one user wrote. “What would you expect in a country where a girl was shot for going to school and these blind religious people call it Western propaganda,” said another.
However, some users ignored the influencer's observation and wrote, “Hey, welcome to Pakistan, we girls are queens, you won't find us hanging out on random street corners, we like stylish places like the library, cafes that offer free Wi-Fi, shopping malls because we like to shop, restaurants that only serve authentic food or just stay at home or go to work, lol I hope you understand what I mean.
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“We don't need any confirmation from you or anyone else. I hope you have a good time in Pakistan and stay positive. I'm waiting for your replies to the trolls because I believe a travel influencer increases the country they travel to and helps and doesn't take you down,” said another.
“Pakistani woman here, living in Islamabad. I am absolutely where I want to be. There is no such nonsense about relationships here. We work, drive, study, go to spas, go shopping…do what we want,” said one Instagram -user.
“It's a cultural issue, and it varies from location to location in Pakistan. In some areas, women generally don't work. Women are safer at home, men are their protectors and bread winners. I'm sure there are women out shopping or in the near other locations,” another explained
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