Economic self-reliance essential for women empowerment, says Sharif

November 24, 2015

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FILES-PAKISTAN-US-POLITICS-VOTE — (FILES) In this picture taken January 30, 2008, Shahbaz Sharif, brother of former Pakistani prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, addresses a press conference in Karachi. A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has acquitted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's brother of murder, clearing the way for him to contest a by-election, court officials said March 1, 2008.The murder charges were brought against Shahbaz Sharif after the military toppled the government of Nawaz Sharif in a military coup in October 1999. Then-general Pervez Musharraf, who took over as president after the coup, sent the industrialist family into exile a year later. Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan late last year to take part in national elections on February 18. AFP PHOTO/Rizwan TABASSUM/FILES (Photo credit should read RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty Images)

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that half of Pakistan’s population comprised women and their empowerment was the need of the hour for progress and prosperity of the country.

Talking to a delegation from women rights ogranisation Shirkatgah, the chief minister recalled that the Punjab government had announced a comprehensive policy for the empowerment of women in 2012 under which revolutionary steps had been taken for their protection and empowerment.

Sharif said that 33 per cent quota of women had been fixed in governmental boards whereas the quota of women in government jobs had also been increased from five per cent to 15 per cent. He said that contract for running canteens in the educational institutions was also being given to women.

The CM said that the ownership of women inheritance had been made compulsory while a law had also been introduced for the protection of women at offices and workplaces. He said that economic independence was essential for the empowerment of women, adding that they should work side by side men in the practical field after completion of their education.

Sharif said that women living in villages worked shoulder to shoulder with men in the various sectors and women of urban areas would also have to play their role in the process of national development.

The CM said that Pakistani women were very talented and they had proved their metal in all sectors of life. He said that the role of women, including Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and Raina Liaqat Ali Khan., in the Pakistan Movement was highly commendable.

Led by Farida Shaheed, the delegates noted that the Punjab government had taken effective steps for the empowerment of women and the chief minister was taking practical steps in the real sense for this purpose.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the attorney general for Pakistan, Punjab Ministers Zakiya Shahnawaz, Hameeda Waheeduddin, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Syed Haroon Sultan and Khalil Tahir Sandhu were also present on the occasion.