President, PM for utilising women’s potential for progress

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have called for a greater role of women in economic, political and social spheres to utilise their potential for ensuring further progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

Speaking at a Women Leaders Awards ceremony organised in connection with International Women's Day, the president said women should work outside of their homes and society should provide them appropriate opportunities to excel in their respective fields.

Men should take it upon themselves to address the concerns of women regarding harassment at workplaces, he said, adding that Pakistan lagged behind other countries in terms of gender parity and practical steps were needed to bridge the gap among men and women in terms of social and economic inclusion.

The president shared the example of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah whose sister Fatima Jinnah stood shoulder to shoulder with him during the movement for the creation of Pakistan.

"We cannot afford to keep women confined to the homes if we want to make economic progress," he emphasised adding countries like China made phenomenal progress by making women part of the economic endeavours.

The president said Islam gave rights to women including her right to inheritance many centuries back, at a time when there was no concept of these rights in other societies. In the western world, women were given these basic rights just in the last century, he pointed out.

In his message on International Women’s Day, the prime minister said joint support by the government, civil society and media was crucial in protecting the rights of women in the country. Terming women the ‘pride of the nation’, he said the country needed their services and skills to progress.

Shehbaz Sharif said the government was taking effective steps for the inclusion of women in the national mainstream and was extending them equal opportunities in all sectors including education and employment.

He mentioned in this regard the legislation on women’s inheritance, educational scholarships for girls, women’s special quota in the Punjab Endowment Fund, provision of laptops and ensuring merit in Recruitment as Chief Minister of Punjab. Recently, a 25 percent quota has been reserved for women in the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme, he said.

He felicitated women in Pakistan and across the globe, saying that Women’s Day acknowledged the significant role played by women in society and also in recognition of their services for the evolution of mankind.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2023.