PAKISTAN: Govt Committed to Empower Women, Girls: Sharmila

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Women Wing Sindh Information Secretary Ms Sharmila Farooqui left here on Sunday for the United States to attend the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day to be held next week in Washington under the aegis of the State Department and its programme `Year of Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges'.

Talking to media before her departure to the US, Sharmila said that she would represent PPP Women Wing at the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day and highlight the social, educational and human rights reliefs and incentives provided to the women and girls in Pakistan.

“The Pakistani women and girls are talented and they can play a great role in socio-economic development of the country and that was why the PPP government was committed to empower them through better education incentives. However, they need security at their homes and work places,” Sharmila said. She said the PPP government had launched various programmes to empower women and girls in Pakistan like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and scholarships schemes at the universities and colleges for providing higher education.

Sharmila said to end violence against women they had also established women police stations besides passing a bill against domestic violence against women.

She said that under the BISP, deserving women were being paid Rs 1,000 per month which provided them greater relief. Sharmila said the PPP government in association with social and human rights organisations was sensitizing police to end domestic violence and harassment against women across the country.

She said besides the government, it was also the responsibility of all stakeholders, including media and non-governmental organisations to jointly struggle for bringing an end to human rights violations, particularly with women and girls.

Sharmila said that to secure women in the country, the National Assembly had also passed the Protection against Harassment at

Workplaces Bill for providing a safe working environment to women and ending their intimidation with a view to fulfil their right to work with dignity.

She said this year's theme of the International Women's Day is `Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women'.

She said that the PPP government under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari was committed to initiate more projects to boost science and technology education and provide greater share to women and girls in them so as to develop the country to a larger level.

“It is pity that tolerance in males is very low. Discrimination starts with women and girls before their birth because many parents do not want girl child. Hence media should play its due role to help end such behaviours of the male who are dominating society in unjustified manner”, PPP Women Wing Sindh leader said.

Sharmila also called upon civil society organizations to cooperate with the government to end honour killings of women besides raising awareness about their rights at every part of the country.