Pakistan pledges to promote and protect women’s rights | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan pledges to promote and protect women’s rights

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Like other countries of the world, Pakistan observed International Women’s Day 2015 on Sunday to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, with a commitment to promote and protect their rights.

The day was celebrated with the theme ‘Make It Happen’. This year, several government departments arranged a variety of programmes for commemorating the day, while a number of organisations held seminars, conferences and rallies to highlight women rights and issues in Pakistan.

On the day, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have reaffirmed government’s resolve to provide equal opportunities to women enabling them to grow and excel in every sphere of life.

In their separate messages on the occasion of International Women’s Day, they said the government is committed to protecting the women from all sorts of exploitation and marginalisation.

In his message, the president said observance of the day serves to raise greater awareness about the issues of the women and highlight their critical role in the sustained developmental process. He said this day provides an opportunity to pay tributes to the achievements of women and to highlight their needs and concerns at the national, regional and global level. He reiterated that any kind of discrimination against women was a fundamental violation of human rights.

Separately, Prime Minister said participation of women is a prerequisite for the development of a country and PML-N government would ensure their empowerment and participation in the nation-building process.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated his party’s commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of women and pledged that PPP shall always stand for equal rights to all including women.

In his message on the occasion of International Women’s Day, he pointed out that it was the people’s government led by Benazir Bhutto which practically worked for the uplift of women folk and establishment of First Women’s Bank, Women Police Stations, appointment of women in judiciary and special projects for women’s health were launched.

Separately, Minister of State for Information and Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman Sunday inaugurated Women Development and Empowerment Centre (WD&EC). The opening of the centre established by Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) on Lehtrar Road marked the International Women Day. The centre will offer advanced computer courses, besides skill training of beautician, embroidery, sewing and cooking to women belonging to marginalised segments of the federal capital and adjacent areas.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the minister quoted the Quaid-i-Azam that no country could progress without equal participation of women in nation building. She said women, who comprised 50 percent of the country’s population, were talented and the government was taking appropriate steps to provide them opportunities.

Daily Times