Govt vows to uphold women’s rights

The spokesperson says girls education a must for progress

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has signaled that it is staunchly committed to upholding women’s rights.

Spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the provincial government is taking serious steps to safeguard and secure women’s rights in the province.

Emphasising the need to educate girls to build a prosperous society, he said an educated woman leads an educated family.

Shahwani shared these views on Thursday following the ‘International Day of the Girl Child’.

He added that despite facing domestic violence and different kinds of pressures from society, women in Balochistan are still consistent and playing their active role in the provincial development.

“Without girls’ education we can’t build a developed society, hence parents should educate their children, especially girls,” Shahwani said. He affirmed that the province would celebrate ‘International Day of the Girl’ to highlight and discuss the girls’ rights in the society. “The Balochistan government is committed to providing quality education to students in the province, especially girls, to encourage and empower them to pursue education,” he said.

Sharing views over forced removal of a lady doctor at BMC Hospital, the spokesman said that the government has assured protesting doctors that such incidents won’t be repeated. The protests were called off after the assurances

Earlier, the spokesman vowed that the provincial government is upgrading facilities in the province.

Shahwani said that Balochistan is entering a new era of economic development due to utmost efforts of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, adding that new economic zones are a gateway to provincial development.

“Provincial cabinet has been keenly focusing on the upgrading of social services in rural parts of the province to ensure the provision of quality facilities to the poor people,” said Shahwani, adding that speedy completion of special economic zones would bring prosperity in Balochistan.

He said that CM Kamal reviewed progress on economic zones while chairing the sixth Special Economic Zones Meeting in Quetta.

“Three business centres are being established in Balochistan which would make the provincial economy boom and will yield job opportunities for the youth,” Shahwani added.

The spokesman reiterated that health, education and economic development remain the key priorities of the current government.

Shahwani also said that the provincial government is committed to the development and prosperity of the people. A genuine representation in the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is a result of continuous efforts of CM Kamal, he added.

In a separate statement, Shahwani said that time has arrived for the province to contribute to economic development.

“Gwadar Port after its completion will give fillip to economic activities in the province and also expand trading routes to the neighbouring countries,” he asserted. He added that the provincial government is taking every possible measure to ensure peace and stability for the overall provincial progress. Priorities are given to the health and education sectors to resolve the issues immediately, he affirmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2019.