Int’l Women’s Day : No development without women’s participation: CM

Shahbaz Sharif says intolerance has caused great harm to our society

LAHORE:

The goal of national development cannot be achieved without women’s participation in all spheres of life, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday. He was addressing a ceremony held to mark the International Women’s Day at Aiwan-i-Iqbal.

“Half of the country’s population consists of women. Pakistani women have proved their mettle in all walks of life. Men and women will have to march together for making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the ideals of the country’s founders. Poverty and ignorance will have to be eliminated speedily. We have to face these challenges while seeking guidance from the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the ideals of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal,” he said.

He said Islam laid great emphasis on respecting women. “Intolerance has caused great harm to our society. Whenever some steps are taken to protect women’s rights, some circles try to create the impression that they violate Islamic teachings. We have to change this attitude and the negative approach,” he said.

Shahbaz Sharif said religious leaders have to play their role in highlighting the status of women. “Women have worked side-by-side with men in the development of Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia and other Islamic countries. Resistance to the participation of women in the process of development is not appropriate,” he said.

Punjab Censor Board Chairperson Zeba Ali praised the government for taking measures to deal with violence against women.

Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheedud Din thanked the chief minister on behalf of women of the Punjab over the steps taken for the development of women.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2016.