Women empowerment

Meem Zayray
Issues, problems , facilities and safety at work places for womenfolk were highlighted at various seminars and gatherings organized by various women’s rights bodies and welfare organizations on the International Women’s Day which was quite enthusiastically observed all over Pakistan as elsewhere the world over on March 8 as usual. Measures so far taken by the Punjab Government for women empowerment during last couple of years and those in the pipeline also were also mentioned by various speakers on the occasion of the International Women’s Day at various forums. Provincial Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his message on the occasion also pointed out the measures which his government had taken during the last three years for empowerment of women, who form half of the population, and reiterated his commitment to continue doing whatever is required and possible for giving women their rightful place in the society ensuring their protection and safety against violence and on work places. This categorical assurance by the Chief Executive of the province regarding women empowerment is indeed quite appreciable and commendable. Measures taken by the provincial government for ensuring dignity and protection of women against all sorts of violence and highlighted by the speakers at various forums on the International Women’s Day briefly included grant of inheritance and property rights to women by law, increasing quota for women in government jobs from 5 per cent to 16 per cent with 3 years relaxation in age limi for induction in government organizations, fair representation of up to as much as 33 per cent in all boards of public institutions, establishment of 75 day care centres, establishment of centres for prevention of violence against women in phased manner in all districts starting from Multan, provision of interest free loans and legislation and enforcement of as many as 18 new laws and amendment to existing laws and establishment of new institutions. The Provincial Government has undoubtedly done a lot for women empowerment and what is more laudable in this regard is its determination and commitment to continuing doing more for ensuring as much as women empowerment as possible in the shortest time. All this is quite laudable, indeed.