Gender disparity: Panel to devise women empowerment policy

PM directs committee to submit recommendations by March 5

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday constituted a committee to formulate the National Women Empowerment Policy 2016, planned to be launched on the International Women’s Day on March 8.

According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the committee will comprise Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister of State for Information Technology Anousha Rehman, prime minister’s special assistants Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed and Ashtar Ausaf Ali, MNAs Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal and Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, former Punjab women’s development secretary Iram Bukhari and Prime Minister’s Additional Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir.

Premier Nawaz directed the committee to submit its final recommendations to him for approval by March 5, the statement said. The Prime Minister's Office has already prepared a working paper in consultations with various stakeholders and Pakistan's permanent mission to the World Trade Organisation to align the Women Empowerment Policy with the country’s national and international undertakings, it added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2016.