Spaces & Flows: Ninth International Conference on Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Abstract

This study deals with women’s rights to lands to promote gender equality. The Economic Transformation Initiative, Gilgit-Baltistan (ETI-GB), an ambitious program supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development United Nation (IFAD, UN), aims to strengthen land reform process in the disputed area of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan. The study uses mixed methods for data collection. For qualitative data, content analysis is used for a thorough understanding of different types of land reforms across the globe, particularly in South Asia. Theoretical understanding of the literature is essential, providing the basis for why land reform is important and what an important role it plays when it comes to eliminating inequality. Focused group discussion was carried out for verification and triangulation of data. For quantitative, the survey was conducted to take responses from the people of the region and analyzed. Currently, the program is implemented in twelve villages of four districts. Combining all the research site responses of the total 6,852 identified beneficiaries, the majority are male households comprising 6,636 and only 216 are female households. There is a huge difference in households. In spite of great difference, it is a great achievement of the donor that in the history of GB, for the first-time women are entitled to land ownership. GB is a patriarchal society, many social factors like culture and religion play a role in gender inequality.