Equal rights, opportunities for women stressed

Balochistan Governor says that women and men have equal social, political and economic rights

QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, in a message on International Women’s Day, has said that women and men have equal social, political and economic rights. In a press release, the governor said it was not possible to attain sustainable development and prosperity without the contribution of women, adding that women were treated with immense respect in the Pashtun and Baloch cultures in accordance with our Islamic values and national traditions which strictly prohibited the abuse of women.

The governor also emphasized the capabilities of Balochistan's women which he lamented had not been adequately utilized due to a scarcity of resources. But he expressed his satisfaction over the performance of women in various provincial departments including health, education and sports which he called a positive sign.

The governor also voiced hope that the province’s women will play their role in the development of the country in keeping with our cultural values.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Aliyani has said that, without providing equal opportunities to women in all sectors, we cannot fulfil our dream of a developed Pakistan. Speaking to the media at a ceremony celebrating the occasion, the chief minister said that simply holding ceremonies on this day would not ensure basic rights for women in our society. What was needed for the development of the country, he emphasized, were practical measures to empower women.

He pointed out that his administration had appointed the first female Secretary in Balochistan and stressed that, with women’s participation, the country can achieve prosperity.

On educational reforms in Balochistan, the chief minister said the current government had declared a state of emergency to make education available to all, a move he claimed that was yielding positive results. He said two to four model and high schools were being constructed in all districts of the province to provide education to both boys and girls.

The Balochistan chief minister has also directed the concerned authorities to establish a fully functional Child Protection Bureau in the province on the lines of one currently operating in the Punjab.

To that end, he has directed the Social Welfare Secretary to expedite the departmental procedure for the establishment of the bureau and to prepare and submit a summary for it to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat within two weeks.

(With additional input from APP)