Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiative, on the occasion of International Women’s Day launched the National Gender Policy Framework that seeks to empower Pakistan women through a “structured framework”.
As per the planning ministry, “The provision of enabling environment is prerequisite for equal participation of women in economic activity that is a linchpin in the three growth strategy and SDGs.”
It is pertinent to note that the policy framework was launched by Planning Minister Asad Umar who was accompanied by Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Fehmida Mirza, PM’s aide Dr Sania Nishtar, Lt General Nigar Johar, and others.
During the ceremony, Umar said the framework launched by the government aimed to translate “honest intent” into an “integrated actionable programme”.
He further said that the government would also address challenges faced by women in the education sector. “Enrollment of girls in schools is very low as compared to boys and the dropout rate is increasing with each passing day,” Umar added.
He added that there was a need to implement the laws that ensure gender equality as women cannot work to their full potential if they don’t feel protected.
The minister also talked about the participation of women in politics, calling it an equally important challenge. He said there was a need to engage more women in politics and a strong local government system was a prerequisite to making such change.
He concluded by noting that women were “immensely contributing in different walks of life”. He said they were playing an important role in the economic activity which needed to be recognised. Umar further said the women health workers also played a pivotal role in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that struck the world in Dec 2019.
