Women empowerment: Sindh commission on the status of women

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly passed a law to establish a ‘commission on the status of women’.  The bill was presented by parliamentary affairs minister, Dr Sikandar Mandhro. 

The minister said that the law was being made to empower women and ensure their rights, with full administrative and financial autonomy to monitor and oversee compliance of national and provincial laws and international conventions and to highlight discriminatory practices, abuses and violation of women’s rights. The commission will comprise 21 members and a chairperson who will be a woman.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan did not give his assent to four bills passed by the Sindh Assembly in the last session. These are the Sindh Physiotherapy Council, Sindh Pharmacy Council, Sindh Nursing Council and Post- Graduate College of Medical Science.

The speaker read the Governor’s message and said, “The Governor has proposed to re-consider some clauses of these bills. I want to know if you pass or reject it,” he asked Dr Mandhro. After consulting the chief minister, who was also present in the session, Dr Mandhro requested to defer the decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2015.