Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) is a grassroots organization that promotes human rights for rural communities in Pakistan's Punjab region. PODA creates awareness of human rights, women's empowerment and good governance in villages throughout the region. In addition, the organization provides mentoring for rural youth; adult literacy programs; sports activities for village children; and training in new skills for income generation. PODA promotes women's leadership, empowering rural women to participate in advocacy at a local and national level, based on the belief that community participation is vital in the fight to gain access to basic rights and social services. PODA also works with youth to engage them in action and advocacy for the establishment of universal standards on civil, political, economic and social rights. In the wake of the 2005 earthquake, PODA contributed to the reconstruction effort by rebuilding housing and infrastructure in the affected region. PODA's income generating program provides both training and resources to women artisans in rural Punjab. Participation in the program and income earned allows women to overcome the economic and social challenges they face. Increased economic independence also means increased freedom from some of the restrictions of traditional life.

Punjab Region of Pakistan

The rural communities of Pakistan's southwestern Punjab region face a number of challenges and have often been neglected in the provision of government services. Rural populations have a literacy rate nearly 30 percent lower than urban populations (44 percent compared to 72 percent), have less access to drinking water resources (87 percent compared to 95 percent) and less access to sanitation facilities (35 percent compared to 92 percent). While women across Pakistan face gender discrimination-including poor access to services and resources-the discrimination rural women face is exacerbated by sub-standard living conditions in rural areas, which manifest themselves in higher instances of malnutrition for women, and significantly limited employment opportunities.

The Papier Mâché Craft in Punjab

The art of papier mâché,  a prevalent household craft in the villages of Punjab, originated in Persia, and was introduced to Kashmir in the 15th century, where it was adapted. The Kashmiri method, passed on to Punjab, involves first forming a pulp of soaked recycled paper with other recycled materials like cloth, rice, and straw. This pulp is left to dry in a mold for a few days, coated with lacquer, and then painted with intricate designs. Traditional designs, like those on PODA products, include flowers and Arabesque patterns, using silver, gold and red paint. Each woman spends between 7 and 10 days to create each item.

Region: South Asia
Capital: Islamabad
Population: 156,770,000 (2007)
Size: Slightly less than twice the size of California
Independence: From United Kingdom on August 14, 1947
Currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Languages: Urdu and English

Literacy Rate: Total 56%, Male 63%, Female 36% (2005)
Education: Free until university
Primary School Enrollment Rate: 66% (2004)
Life Expectancy: Male 62.73 years, Female 64.83 years (2007)
Infant Mortality Rate: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2007)
HIV Prevalence Rate: 0.1% or 74,000 people living with HIV and AIDS (2001)
National Poverty Rate: 24% (2005)
People living on less than $2 a day: 73.6% (1990-2004)
People living on less than $1 a day: 7% (1990-2004)
Access to clean drinking water: 91%, (2004)
Access to proper sanitation: 59% (2004)
Doctor to patient ratio: 74 doctors for every 100,000 people (1990-2004)

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2007 & UNDP Human Development Report 2006

Did you know: Benazir Bhutto, twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988 and 1993, was the first woman leader of a post-colonial Muslim state. (Bhutto was deposed and lived in Exile from 1999 to 2007)

Pakistan (meaning "Land of the Pure" in Urdu) is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan and Iran to the west, China to the northeast, and the Arabian Sea to the south. The country was created in 1947 after the British left India and partitioned Pakistan as a Muslim state, leaving India as a Hindu state. The partition resulted in mass migration of Hindus and Muslims across the boarder along with communal violence that continues to erupt today. The two countries still fight over the India-controlled regions of Jammu and Kashmir along Pakistan's boarder.

Today, Pakistan is seeing a period of economic growth. But it also has one of the fastest growing populations in the world and the majority of its citizens live in poverty. Economic advances have primarily benefited the urban population while leaving the 75 percent of the population living in rural communities in poverty. These communities lack access to basic services, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Most citizens are denied basic human rights.

In 1999, Pakistan fell to military rule. General Musharraf, now Pakistan's president, promised to restore the country's economy, but instead, the country has faced poor governance, corruption, and a disregard for human rights. Today, Musharraf remains president alongside a civilian elected prime minister.

After the September 11th attacks in 2001, Pakistan became an ally of the US government, promising to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. As a result, the US gave Pakistan over $10 billion in aid, but most of the funding went to the military rather than to address poverty. While the country has seen a huge influx in aid, it remains incredibly far behind on the path to meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Women and girls live in some of the poorest conditions in Pakistan-over 70 percent of those living in poverty are women, and in some areas as few as 20 percent of women are literate. They face mistreatment, abuse, higher rates of malnutrition, and severely limited access to education, health care, and employment.

The recent earthquake in 2005 further devastated regions of the country that already faced significant challenges; more than 74,000 Pakistanis were killed, 70,000 injured and over 2.8 million people were left homeless in North-West Frontier Province. Hundreds of thousands of buildings collapsed under landslides, including several thousand schools and hospitals. The world responded with millions of dollars in aid designated to provide healthcare, supplies, shelter, water and education to affected populations, but most people continue to live in poor conditions with limited access to resources.

Despite the many obstacles to addressing women's rights, human rights, and poverty in Pakistan, the country is starting to make some changes. In 2006, the Women's Protection Bill was passed. President Musharref has stated that if he is reelected in the 2007 elections, he will relinquish his control of the military. In the mean time, a number of organizations support income generation, microfinance, and rights education for women across the country.

Did you know: Pakistan is home to the world's highest paved international road, the Karakoram Highway that connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range at an altitude of 16,000 feet.