Return Migration to Pakistan during COVID19 Pandemic: Unmaking the Challenges

In order to contain the spread of corona virus (COVID-19) disease, strict border closure measures have been taken globally. Migrants and refugees are affected across the globe due to such measures. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic recession escalated across the globe which is expected to have serious implications for the migrant workers and laborers. Potohar region was selected to explore implications of return migration from abroad, but the fieldwork halted immediately due to the pandemic outbreak. Since the data on Pakistani migrants is dispersed and scant, it was nearly impossible to stick to the locale for returnees. Therefore, the data for this study was collected qualitatively using exploratory methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted using interview guide as a tool of research. The paper is based on analysis of the narratives based on the experiences of the returnees especially. It sheds light on the state of the stranded Pakistani migrants who have been returning or awaiting repatriation due to layoffs. It delves into long-run and short-run challenges due to return migration, in Pakistan which highly depends on remittances from abroad. Challenges created by sudden end to remittances, entrepreneurial setups and returnees’ reintegration in the society need immediate attention. It is recommended that the state should support and monitor the migrants living abroad, ease out issues in repatriation of the laid off workers, pave way for investment, offer insurance plans, reduce reliance on remittance flow and engage them in Public Private Partnerships for sustainable reintegration.

Masculine Politics and Women Political Participation in Punjab, Pakistan

This mixed methods research study intended to explore how the feminine identities of women are used to undermine women capacities, create social barriers and restrict their political participation. For the qualitative research 20 women registered voters were recruited from Bhawana city, District Chiniot, purposively along with 8 women parliamentarians from different political parties. The information collected from the respondents was analyzed through thematic analysis. The results demonstrated the strong hold of domesticity ideology, gendered division of labor and roles, clear demarcation of private and public sphere, strong adherence to biological determinism, hegemonic masculinities and dominance of feminized outlook. The quantitative part of the study comprised of cross sectional survey of 414 women voters from selected villages of Tehsil 18 Hazari, District Jhang and Tehsil Gujar Khan, District Rawalpindi. Model fit indices of femininity, gender roles, political behaviors (political efficacy, political interest, political culture, political socialization), political trust and political participation showed the goodness of fit of samples through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The descriptive analysis elaborated that respondents scored high on femininity, traditional gender roles and patriarchal political culture and low on political interest, political efficacy, political socialization and political participation. The Correlational Analysis described that femininity is negatively correlated with political participation, political efficacy, political trust, political socialization and political trust (conduct of politicians) and positively with patriarchal political culture and political trust (performance and ability of the politicians). Structure Equation Model (SEM) also confirmed the above results.