Cabinet meeting: Women empowerment crucial for progress: CM

Women to be given three-year age relaxation in govt jobs.

LAHORE:

The country cannot progress without the empowerment of women, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

He was presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet. The meeting approved various steps for women empowerment and protection of their rights, including amendments in family laws, setting up Punjab Working Women Endowment Fund and establishment of a family courts’ complex in each district. The cabinet decided to observe World Women’s Day on March 8. The meeting also decided to give three years’ age relaxation to women in government employment. The meeting decided that all columns relating to women’s rights in nikah nama (marriage deed) should be filled.



The chief minister said that more than 50 per cent of the country’s population comprised women. “Women will have to display their talents and abilities. The quota resumed for women in government jobs has been increased from five to 15 per cent. Laws have been introduced to ensure that women get their share of inheritance,” he said.

Fighting terrorism

The cabinet also expressed its resolve to eliminate terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from society. The members stated that all efforts would be made to root out terrorism.

Shahbaz Sharif said that terrorists had shed the blood of innocent people in Shikarpur, Hayatabad and Lahore.

“The people are united against terrorism. Victory is the only option in the war against terrorism. The government has set up a Counter Terrorism Force. It will play an important role in the elimination of terrorism from the country,” he said.

He said that the Punjab government was taking immediate steps to implement the National Action Plan against terrorism. “Police have been directed to ensure foolproof security of worship places,” he said.

The chief minister said that work was underway on the Safe City Project. “The project will start from Lahore. It will later be extended to Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and other cities in the next three years. Modern technology will be used for improving law and order,” he said.

The meeting decided to include topics on tolerance, peace and brotherhood in school syllabi. The government will also arrange essay-writing and speech contests in educational institutions.

Chiniot-Rajwa

The chief minister said that experts had collected samples from 10 sites in an area spread over 24 square kilometres at Chiniot-Rajwa. “Besides iron reserves, copper deposits have also been discovered. According to experts, these precious reserves are spread over a much larger area. The Chinese company and German consultants are trying to estimate the reserves. The work will be completed soon,” he said.

The chief minister said that natural resources could play an important role in the progress of the country. “During a dictatorship, the rulers had tried to rob the people of this precious wealth. This government has saved the project,” he said.

The chief minister congratulated Minister for Minerals Sher Ali Khan, Punjab Mineral Development Company Chairman Dr Samar Mubarak Mand and Minerals Secretary Dr Arshad Mahmood over the discovery and certification of the precious mineral reserves in Chiniot.

The meeting appreciated Punjab Education Foundation Chairman Qamarul Islam over his performance.

The cabinet offered special prayers for the people who had lost their lives in terrorist attacks in Lahore, Shikarpur, Hayatabad and the Army Public School Peshawar.

A preliminary report regarding the suicide attack on the Qila Gujar Singh Police Lines was presented in the meeting.

The home secretary and inspector general of police briefed the cabinet members about the steps being taken to beef up security.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.