KARACHI:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly recently announced that it has set up a baby-feeding and daycare centre at the assembly for female parliamentarians. This is a great initiative to facilitate and empower female parliamentarians. Amidst the ongoing femicide and outcry for gender equality in the country, this is a step in the right direction. Women constitute almost half the population of Pakistan, yet they are neglected in all aspects of life. Through this step, the K-P government has demonstrated that women are welcomed in political and social spheres. A progressive measure such as this will encourage more women to become involved in professional activities.
This initiative has encouraged other departments within K-P to take the same steps. Following this, female parliamentarians and K-P healthcare department also announced the establishment of daycare centres at schools, colleges, universities and hospitals. These efforts will alleviate the obstacles many women face that prevent them from working.
Other provincial assemblies must follow in the footsteps of the K-P Assembly and establish baby-feeding and daycare centres to support female parliamentarians. It is important that the federal and provincial governments take such exemplary measures to promote gender equality. It will encourage others to take similar steps.
Maria Naseem
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2021.
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