- Dr Sheeren Mazari says CPEC likely to give more employment opportunities to women
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mr Lijian Zhao on Monday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would also help transform the lives of Pakistani women following the footsteps of Chinese women who had achieved multiple milestones decades ago.
The event was organised by Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) in collaboration with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS), was also addressed by Dr Shireen Mazari, Minister for Human Rights.
Addressing the audience at the launching event of the 6th monograph titled “Role of Women in CPEC,” Lijian Zhao said that the women in China have transformed over time due to the economic changes in the country.
He further expressed confidence in CPEC, saying that it as a game changer for Pakistan, specially for the women of the country.
The inaugural speech was given by the PCI Executive Director Mustafa Hyder Sayed in which he mentioned the role of the Institute, which he said has played a crucial role in disseminating information on key issues pertaining to the CPEC.
He discussed the key aspects issues faced by women in Pakistan and how important a role CPEC could play in empowering women in the country.
Dr Sheeren Mazari on this occasion also appreciated the efforts of PCI in producing the report on the “Role of Women in CPEC”.
“The report is a comprehensive study, which is very well researched and drafted,” she maintained. Talking about the role of women in CPEC, she expressed gratitude over the increasing opportunities that women are getting under CPEC and said that she hopes to see women being included in the vocational and technical training being conducted under the project.
She further added that training women will help them in attaining more employment opportunities within CPEC and this way it will truly be a game changer for Pakistan.
Talking about the future of CPEC, she said “The government is committed to CPEC as it is benefiting the people of Pakistan. Let me make it clear: CPEC has come to stay and we will take CPEC forward.”
PCI Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed stressed the importance of regional connectivity and peace. He said that CPEC has not only become a part of the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan, but of the entire region.
“Quaid-e-Azam, in an interview to the Life Magazine in January 1948 said that Pakistan is the pivot of the world, placed on the frontier on which future position of the world revolves. This region is the most important region in the world in terms of geopolitics, geo-economics and geo-strategy, and therefore CPEC should no longer be confined to Pakistan and China, rather there should be a regional expansion,” he reminded.
He said the success story of CPEC is evident from the results as 22 early harvest projects that initiated of which nine have already been completed and 13 under construction.
It was further claimed that 70,000 jobs have been provided to Pakistanis because of CPEC, and the highest growth rate of 5.8 per cent in the last 13 years is attributed to CPEC.
As many as 26,000 Pakistani students are studying in China and 22,000 Pakistani students are learning the Chinese language, it was said.
Other speakers at the event included China Power Hub Generation Company Vice President Ambreen Shah, Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company GM Naseer Memon and China’s Grandview Institution’s Public Affairs Department Director Du Xiao who also chaired a panel discussion.
The speakers spoke largely on the role the women play in the economy of any country and their contributions to the GDP growth.
The function was largely attended by representatives of think-tanks, women organisations, university professors, students, parliamentarians and media personnel.
