The ending of Pamaal carried powerful lessons and courageously highlighted the flaws that are deeply rooted in our society. These are the shortcomings that everyone sees, yet not everyone truly acknowledges — and those that have become so normalized that many no longer even recognize them as wrong.

In the name of social pressure and so-called honor, many men confine women within walls built from their own fears. The outcome is almost always the same: a woman becomes a prisoner of someone else’s expectations, dreams, ego, and misplaced notions of honor. A woman’s independence is her fundamental right, yet it is often met with accusations, as if freedom automatically equates to rebellion or immorality.

What we need to talk about is meaningful freedom — a freedom where a woman has the right to think, decide, and choose for herself. Malika’s journey in Pamaal reflected this struggle. She fought, stumbled, and broke at times, but she never surrendered. She chose her destination and continued to walk towards it with resilience and determination.

Women are not weak. They only need to be strong enough to stand on their own when the time comes, without being dependent on anyone for survival or validation. It is crucial for the men in our society to understand that a woman’s independence does not threaten their strength or dignity. On the contrary, an empowered woman becomes a pillar of support for her family and for society.

Even today, countless women in our society are educated, talented, and skilled, yet remain unable to fulfill their dreams because their aspirations are tied to the permission of a husband, brother, or father. This reality demands reflection.

The message to the men of our society is simple: empower the women in your homes. When a woman becomes independent, she doesn’t just transform her own life, she gains the power to transform society itself.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)