Women Development Department Punjab Secretary Irum Bukhari has said on Wednesday that the provincial chapter of the department will recommend amendments in the law to ensure 33 percent representation of women on all boards of statutory organizations, public sector companies as well as special purpose taskforce and committees.
This was stated by her while chairing a meeting in Gender Reforms Action Plan (GRAP) on the subject which was attended by Project Coordinator GRAP, Women Development Department Deputy Secretary and all gender specialists posted in the Civil Secretariat Lahore.
While addressing the meeting, the secretary informed the participants that pursuant to the approval of Punjab Women Empowerment Package, the newly created Women Development Department had sought approval of the competent authority on policy implementation for public sector employment and economic empowerment of women.
The policy of Government of the Punjab announced by the chief minister (CM) in March this year stipulated that all boards of statutory organizations, public sector companies as well as special purpose taskforce and committees should have at least 33 percent female representation. Bukhari said that the CM, upon a summary moved by Women Development Department, had constituted a committee headed by the secretary of Women Development Department with representatives of administrative departments as members which would recommend amendments in relevant laws and rules for the purpose of making 33 percent representation of women mandatory on all Boards of Governors, Board of Directors etc, operating within the provincial government.
She said that gender specialists of the GRAP had been tasked with the implementation of this policy for the empowerment of women. Every gender specialist had been directed to assist the provincial departments in examination of laws and rules and to push forward cases to be placed before the committee constituted by the CM, for approval. Bukhari reiterated the resolve of Women Development Department to translate the vision of Punjab CM for the implementation of women empowerment policy into a reality through its fast track implementation concerning women in public sector employment.
It was expected that the presence of substantial number of females on boards would enhance women empowerment agenda and expand opportunity for improvement of socio economic status of women in the society.
Female PPP MPAs disgruntled with PM over development funds
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) female members of the Punjab Assembly have decided to meet Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf after non-release of funds promised to them by the PM. According to sources, PM Ashraf had stopped the development funds for Punjab MPAs. The PM had promised federal funds for members of the PPP in Punjab, who complained about the discriminatory attitude shown by the government towards them. Despite repeated promises, the PPP members had not received Rs 20 million development funds from the government while the female members were completely ignored in this regard. While talking to online sources, a female MPA said that she was extremely surprised over the non release of funds to the female members, adding that this matter would be taken up with the PM to ensure the release of funds. She asked that if female MNAs could get funds, why the MPAs couldn’t have the same. She added that this discrimination with female members of the Punjab Assembly would be raised during a meeting with the PM within a few days.