Pakistan’s First Audio Nikkahnama Service Launched
All about EasyPaisa’s Audio Nikkahnama Service
In a move that has created ripples across the country, EasyPaisa – Pakistan’s leading digital financial services platform – has recently unveiled the company’s Audio Nikkahnama Service. The move aims to empower women with crucial knowledge regarding their matrimonial rights.
In a society where illiteracy and lack of awareness pose significant challenges, many women in Pakistan enter into marriages without fully understanding the terms and rights outlined in their Nikahnama. Recognizing this issue, EasyPaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital financial services platform, has taken a groundbreaking step to empower women and make matrimonial rights knowledge accessible to all. Through the introduction of the Easypaisa Audio Nikahnama, women now have unprecedented access to crucial information that was previously inaccessible to them – simply due to the custom of it not being deemed important enough to enlighten them with.
According to a press release issued by the company, the service “leverages the power of technology to overcome literacy barriers and ensure education of the most important contract of life’s most significant moments”.
Quoting the Pakistan Commission on Status of Women, the Press Release that two-thirds of Pakistani women cannot comprehend their Nikahnama due to literacy limitations, while the rest do not get timely access to the document.
The service can be accessed by dialing the free helpline number (0341-1171222), allowing women all over Pakistan to now access the content of their Nikahnama in a language they understand. The audio Nikahnama is available in seven different languages, including Urdu, English, Balochi, Pashto, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Saraiki, enabling women to access crucial information and understand their rights.
Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, EasyPaisa has also taken significant steps to ensure that individuals with hearing impairments are not left behind. Through sign language videos, those with hearing disabilities can now comprehend the intricacies of the Nikahnama, empowering them to make informed decisions.
This initiative is not only commendable for its aim of empowering Pakistani women, but also for its efforts to raise awareness and promote understanding of the Nikahnama clauses. EasyPaisa has extended its reach to three major cities in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad – through graffiti campaigns. These visually striking initiatives communicate a vital message about the significance of reading and understanding the Nikahnama, encouraging individuals to take an active role in comprehending their rights and obligations.
Rifa Qadri, EasyPaisa’s Head of Marketing and Communications, praised the initiative.
“For decades, countless Pakistani women have entered marriages without fully understanding the terms of their Nikahnama,” she said. “This vital document, outlining their rights and responsibilities within the marriage, often remains inaccessible due to illiteracy or lack of awareness. By making the Nikahnama accessible to all, we are creating a more informed and empowered generation of women in Pakistan.”
According to a Study conducted in 2023, 86% of Nikkah registrars in Lahore believed the bride was not competent enough to negotiate the terms of her Nikahnama, while 85% believed that delegating the right to divorce to women in the Nikahnama would increase the divorce rate, and 92% believed the wife’s right to maintenance was subject to obedience to her husband.
This initiative is transforming the accessibility of the Nikahnama in Pakistan. By providing women with the means to understand their crucial matrimonial rights, EasyPaisa is empowering them and fostering inclusivity. Through its efforts to raise awareness and promote understanding of the Nikahnama, it is encouraging individuals to actively participate in comprehending their rights and obligations. This initiative is extremely important for creating a more informed and empowered society in Pakistan.