Call for inclusion of women in local bodies

Dr Sania Nishtar says let’s support and stand up for other women

ISLAMABAD:

The National Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Women on Tuesday celebrate International Women’s Day with a call for an increased role for women in local government bodies.

National Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar, UN Women’s representative Saman Ahsan and other partners from civil society presented the charter of demands for strengthening women’s role at district, tehsil and union council levels.

Speakers said that women’s political participation and empowerment is essential to reduce their vulnerability and achieve sustainability. It is essential to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision making related to climate change and sustainability for sustainable development and gender equality.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Senator Dr Sania Nishtar said that on International Women’s Day, let’s support, protect and stand up for other women. As women, the fight is not against each other, but the issues and challenges we face every day in today’s age.”

Nilofar Bakhtiar said: "Gender equality can only be ensured when women's political participation at the grass-root level is increased. Women of Pakistan are not the victims, but the fighters.”

MoU signed to set up stitching unit

Meanwhile, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, a memorandum of understanding was held here in Islamabad to establish a stitching/processing unit for women empowerment centres run by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM). In the presence of Turkish envoy Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Managing Director PBM Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and President Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Muhsin Balci signed the MoU.

The MoU explains the support of TIKA with PBM to establish the stitching/processing unit on the premises of F-9 Park. The finished items being prepared in 161 WECs of PBM, will be brought in these stitching units for necessary alteration, finishing, packaging and price tagging process to sell out in a shop hired at a location in the capital city.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2022.