Aurat March Pakistan — Why It Matters

Every March 8th, women march in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad holding signs that say things Pakistani society would prefer they didn't say. This is why that matters.

What is Aurat March?

Aurat March (Women's March) is an annual feminist protest held in Pakistan since 2018, organised on International Women's Day (March 8th). It is the largest organised feminist movement in Pakistan's history. It happens in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, and other cities simultaneously.

Why it started

Pakistan consistently ranks in the bottom 5 countries globally for gender equality (World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index). Women face:

• Honour killings — estimated 1,000+ annually
• Acid attacks — hundreds annually, many unreported
• Domestic violence — affecting an estimated 70–90% of women
• Forced marriages, including child marriage
• Workplace discrimination, harassment, and exclusion
• Online harassment, sextortion, and non-consensual image sharing

Aurat March began because women decided to stop asking politely and start marching visibly.

The famous signs

The signs carried at Aurat March caused more controversy than the march itself. "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" (My body, my choice). "Khana Khud Garam Karo" (Heat your own food). These signs were called obscene by commentators who had nothing to say about the violence that made the march necessary.

The signs weren't obscene. The violence they were protesting was.

Zinaaa's position

Zinaaa was built on the same principle: women's agency is not negotiable. Women message first on Zinaaa. This is not a feature that can be toggled off. It is structural. It is Mera Jism Meri Marzi, built into the server.

We stand with Aurat March. We stand with every woman who marched and every woman who wanted to but couldn't.