Pakistan, March 7—On the eve of International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) 2025, marches and seminars were held in cities across Pakistan, organized by trade unions, student groups, government employee unions, and women’s organizations. Members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) in Pakistan, along with our allies, participated and led discussions. Women workers, who face sexist discrimination and capitalist exploitation in factories, hospitals, and schools, were central to these activities. Cultural clubs also held events like film screenings and theater performances that showcased the struggles of working-class women in Pakistan.

Women need communism

PLP used this opportunity to call for a classless society that guarantees gender equality, workers' rights, and social justice. We highlighted the inextricable links between sexist super-exploitation and gender oppression in Pakistan and made the case for a revolutionary solution to these issues.

Our comrades attended the marches and chanted slogans such as: "Communism, not Feminism," "Down with Liberalism and Fascism," "Fight for Communism," "One World, One Fight," and "Workers of the World, Unite!" As expected, women bosses and misleaders attended, trying to erase the working-class and communist origins of IWWD. They promoted the achievements of capitalist women, while deliberately omitting the word “working” from their placards. These leaders spread liberal feminist ideas, while ignoring the struggles of working-class women, many of whom were still forced to work in their homes for low-wages, and were ironically not given the day off to participate.

History of fightback

We also held discussions where our comrades gave speeches about the meaning and history of IWWD, emphasizing solidarity with working-class women fighting against capitalist exploitation and patriarchal domination. Our comrades explained how U.S. imperialism fosters fascism to suppress working-class struggles for equality, justice, and peace. Capitalist rulers divide the working class by enforcing sexist gender roles and fostering divisions based on race and religion. PLP has long fought to unite workers against exploitation, racism, sexism, and nationalism. 

Although we are small, we aim to present a true communist analysis to the working class, uniting people from all backgrounds in the fight for a classless society.

The political tone of the event was sharpened by a speech that stressed IWWD is not just a celebration, but a call to action. It demands the destruction of the capitalist system that sustains and deepens the super-exploitation of working women.

Another PLP comrade explained that the oppression of women in Pakistan is not isolated but a result of capitalism, which is rooted in feudalism and imperialism. Capitalism profits from gender-based exploitation, relying on women’s unpaid domestic labor and relegating them to household duties. Around 57 perwcent of working women in Pakistan serve as unpaid family workers, primarily in agriculture and domestic work. This labor is essential to the capitalist economy but is unpaid and lacks social security.

Women in Pakistan suffer under both capitalist exploitation and patriarchal control. Feudal power structures further reinforce this oppression by enforcing rigid gender roles and limiting women’s access to land and financial resources. A large portion of women’s labor in sectors like agriculture, domestic work, and garment manufacturing remains unrecognized and uncompensated. Women’s participation in the workforce is just 24 percent, one of the lowest rates globally. This exclusion is supported by patriarchal traditions, limited access to education, and the capitalist system’s reliance on women’s unpaid household labor.

Sexist capitalism by the numbers

Key facts about the situation for women in Pakistan under capitalism include:

• Women earn 38-45 percent less than men for equal work, with a starker gap in the informal sector, where most working-class women face exploitation without legal protections.
• 47 percent of women are illiterate, compared to 30 percent of men.
• Gender-based violence has surged by 17 percent since 2020, with over 14,000 reported cases in 2024, including honor killings, domestic abuse, and sexual assault.
• Maternal mortality remains high, with 186 deaths per 100,000 live births, reflecting the failures of Pakistan’s healthcare system, which is shaped by capitalist policies.
• Although women hold 20 percent of parliamentary seats, nearly all the nominees are from the upper class.

Our comrades reaffirmed that the struggles of working-class women in Pakistan are not separate from the broader class struggle. True liberation cannot be achieved through reforms—it requires the destruction of the capitalist system.

On this International Working Women’s Day, we emphasize that the fight for women’s liberation is bound up with the fight for communism. The way forward lies in class consciousness and an international communist revolution. Only by smashing capitalist structures can working-class women achieve true equality, economic security, and control over their own lives.

Forward to the International Communist Revolution! Workers of the World, Unite!

Rule Breakers is a movie with fighting spirit.  A true story of young Afghan women in 2017 engaged in an international robotics competition focuses on unity and intelligence of the vanguard leaders. The success of persevering high school students, women who fought to be educated despite facing threats of violence, becomes an example of inspiring strength to both men and women in the audience.  I admit I was impressed by the message of cooperation among individuals on various national teams as well as the growth of more reluctant members of the Afghan group. The film contains kernels of communist ideas of antisexism and cooperation not competition and science as tools that will help the working class build a better future under an egalitarian communist society. However, some of the film's scenes sidestepped the question of nationalism and fear. 

When the women are denied visas we are all reminded of our immediate political situation.  Then in disjointed fashion we are shown history leading up to 1999. The repression of women.  The haunting specter of the Taliban.  Then shots are fired through a car window—we reflect on fascism and the current dangers of ICE. And then right back to the movie where a handful of women and their coach try to recruit brilliant young science scholars to enroll in an international competition.  There’s a suspense filled moment when no one shows up . .  then we behold in a basement classroom the scores of women who were shunted away from access to computers—living examples of discrimination and perseverance.

Women workers struggle against sexist capitalism

Tension builds as one woman’s father is killed when the Taliban bombs a mosque. Another woman is pulled off the team by an irate relative. Then the women’s computer is held up in customs. After receiving a compensatory silver medal in Washington, DC, for their “effort” during the visa delay, the Afghan women decide to engage in a second international competition in Albuquerque, NM.  Their robot is sent to the wrong address. It arrives in time but in unusable condition. One of the parts must be welded, and the working-class experience of one woman shows by example the necessary marriage of manual and intellectual skill as she uses the materials in a car garage shop to repair their broken mechanism.

One garage mechanic tells his personal story of on-ground battles in Afghanistan. He found the people there admirable. Two mechanics attend the Albuquerque festival, cheering on the Afghan team.  Throughout the entire film there are scenes of solidarity between teams.  Men and women are seen writing words of encouragement on the backs of the shirts of members of opposing teams.

Each country fosters a unique humanitarian promotion of robotics: One robot dances delicately in crab-step fashion over lethal, toxic material. 

Another favors saving sea life using complex facsimiles of fish robots. One team illustrated how visually challenged people might navigate terrain safely with robotic assistance.  Afghanistan took first place with magnetic detection where spray paint then illuminated land mine locations.  The team predicted the ability to save thousands of lives of adults as well as children who play in desolate areas over the globe.  That first prize is a triumph of one country’s women, but the intent of the film’s message was international.

Now imagine if these ideas and innovations were being realized by women, men, and people of all genders from around the world, armed with scientific education, in an anti-sexist, antiracist, communist, egalitarian world—without borders, money, profit-driven motives, or imperialist competition and wars. In such a world, the working class would have the power to develop all this and more. This is the vision that the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) fights for. Join us!

Here’s why I joined PLP

I work with a fellow teacher who has told me about this organization and the work they do. The teacher was very passionate about the organization. They discussed that people should get respect for the work that they put in. After talking to the educator more about how they planned to get the workers to unite and grow, I became intrigued and asked if I could join any events the organization planned out.

I wanted to join the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) when I first went to one of its events. It was at a pre-May Day event where they discussed plans of action and the organization has been fascinating to see in action. There are people that care about workers’ rights and make sure everyone gets treated in a respectful manner. The Party has been active in going to protests and making sure people are owed justice. This aligns with my interest, as I do want people to be owed justice and respect that is long past overdue.

I want to join an organization that helps others and this party has been putting out events that showcase support for the people. This organization does not belittle one another for the type of work that they do. They do want to see everyone grow and benefit from the action they do. I see the effort that this organization puts out and I am awe-inspired by the amount of people the PLP has that want to see the workers be seen as people. We are living in a time where the political climate has been very aggressive towards many people just for existing. The Party makes sure that does not happen, and calls out against the injustices. Your status as a human being should always remain protected and validated; this Party wants to make sure this continues to happen.

I will work for this organization as long as this premise holds true. I want to stand up and fight against the oppression that has been holding down so many other individuals. I want the people to be able to be themselves without worry or prejudice. I want people to be able to come over to this country and make a living without bigotry saying otherwise. I want people to be able to live comfortably and not worry about homelessness and starvation. I want success for the people that are working two or more jobs to just barely scrape by. We need to work together for this possibility to be a reality. We need to work together if we want those changes to happen. People need to rise up and unite against these oppressive powers. The Progressive Labor Party can do that, we just need to make sure that we will continue to work hard and stick together. Together, change will happen.
*****

Never retired from mass fightback

Long-term outlook. Patience and persistence.

These are words I heard, and that I repeated to others during the decades I immersed myself in trying to be a communist Progressive Labor Party organizer in my union. These words were true then and are true now! My working life ended abruptly years ago thanks to a health crisis. Yet I’ve tried to stay involved with my union’s retiree group. 

This is a group of folks from jobs all over the city. Most of the folks here don’t know me and don’t know I’m a communist – unlike the last decades when I was working.  But some of these retired folks participated years ago in the early militant fights to bring in the union. Several proudly report of being arrested in those fights.

And times have changed! Used to be that my bringing up fascism in union meetings small and large was met with silence. Not now! At today’s retiree meeting we had a very lively discussion that largely accepted fascism as the current U.S. political stage. 

Sure, there was a wide spectrum of opinions of what fascism is and how to fight it. “It’s the Republicans!” “We gotta pray!” “We gotta vote for the Democrats!” “We gotta go back to the streets!”

But all this is to be expected. It also allowed me to introduce the need to defend immigrants and fight deportations into our discussions about fighting fascism and rebuilding our union.  My comments were warmly received. I don’t know where this will lead, but as the retiree group proceeds with our plans to rebuild the union, and we continue to confront and discuss deepening U.S. fascism, I plan to vigilantly look for ways to connect these things to the need for communist revolution. I guess this stuff really is long-term and there ain’t no retiring from the fight to overthrow capitalism.
*****

Taiwan has a timeline for China’s invasion

TribuneIndia, 3/22— Taiwan's annual military drills have now indicated 2027 as a possible year for a Chinese invasion, marking the first time a specific date has been mentioned for the anticipated attack…this year's exercise will include joint operations between the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, featuring live-fire drills, amphibious landings, and simulated missile strikes…Taiwan's Defence Minister, Wellington Koo, stated at a press conference on Wednesday that the Han Kuang exercise is designed to simulate scenarios that could unfold in the next one to two years.

Israeli bombs rain down on Palestinian families

Al Jazeera, 3/21–Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip has continued for a fourth day as its ground forces expand their operations in northern and southern Gaza and the Israeli defence minister threatens to seize land in the coastal enclave. Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israeli forces would “intensify” the military campaign against Hamas…The ground operations come after Israel shattered a nearly two-month ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday with a relentless wave of bombardments after imposing a renewed blockade on the Palestinian territory. More than 590 people, including about 200 children, have been killed in the renewed attacks, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Israeli police attack antiwar protesters 

Jerusalem Post, 3/19–Israel Police violently dispersed a group of protesters demonstrating in Jerusalem against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war in Gaza on Tuesday night. The protesters clashed with security forces and plan to continue demonstrations nationwide, showing their rejection of the new "Strength and Sword" operation in Gaza. In videos posted to social media, police can be seen forcibly dragging away both male and female protesters who were sitting on the ground, as well as violently kicking, hitting, and stomping on them. In a highly-circulated video, police officers can be seen punching a man in the groin area.

Europeans struggle with a U.S. military pullback 

Newsmax, 3/16–Frightened by the prospect of US security disengagement and three years of Moscow's war against Ukraine, European countries are debating reinstating compulsory military service to boost their defences in the face of Russian aggression…"The Russian military today is larger and better than on February 24, 2022…According to a YouGov poll, most people in France (68 percent) and Germany (58 percent) support mandatory military service for young people. Italian and British people are divided, while a majority of Spaniards (53 percent) are against it…"The American sea is receding, and many European countries are saying to themselves that yes, in the end, they are a little bit exposed."

Australia buys missiles to sink Chinese ships

Reuters, 3/13–Australia is scrambling to deploy new long-range missiles as the recent arrival of powerful Chinese warships off the Australian coast delivers a sharp reminder of Beijing’s growing naval muscle…Canberra plans to arm Australian soldiers with anti-ship missiles and advanced targeting radars to protect the country’s vast maritime approaches…Two new types of advanced anti-ship missiles for the army fired from mobile launchers are under evaluation with a decision expected by the end of the year, the government has said…New missiles…could…be deployed to support allied forces defending strategically important islands in the Asia-Pacific region in the event of conflict, military experts told Reuters.

Workers in Brooklyn protest against racist end to TPS

DocumentedNY, 3/19–Outside St. Jerome Church in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, dozens of Haitian immigrants, elected officials, and allies gathered to show solidarity for the tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants in New York and across the United States who are at risk of losing their Temporary Protected Status. In February, the Trump administration rescinded TPS for Haitians, a decision that threatens to uproot more than 50,000 families who have called the U.S. home for years. They held signs reading “Keep Haitian Families Together” and “Haitians Deserve Safety, Not Deportation,” chanting, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”