Fiza Gilani discusses women's rights with delegates from China, Norway and UK

UNITED NATIONS: The leader of Pakistan delegation to the current session of the Commission on the Status of women, Fiza Batool Gilani, spent a busy day Tuesday discussing women-related issues with her counterparts from China, Norway and the United Kingdom on the side-lines of the session.

Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Saeed Ahmed Alvi, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights and Bushra Zulqarnain, Member of the National Commission on Status of Women, also participated in the bilateral meetings.

During her meeting with the Minister and Vice Chairperson of National Committee on Women and Children of China, Ms. MENG Xiaosi, Ms. Gilani, noting excellent Sino-Pakistan relationship, expressed her desire to establish close cooperation between the two countries in the area of women's empowerment through regular interaction between their relevant institutions, a press release of the Pakistan Mission to the UN said. Ms. Xiaosi welcomed the idea of close institutional collaboration.

She also extended an invitation to Ms. Gillani to visit China. Ms. Gilani, who is Pakistan's Goodwill Ambassador for Women's Empowerment, thanked State Secretary of Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister for International Development, Ms. Ingrid Fiskaa, for the Norwegian support during the 2010 devastating floods in Pakistan.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and Norway on women's rights, especially in the fields of capacity building, technical assistance and strengthening relevant state institutions.

Ms. Gilani also briefed her counterpart on the legislative reforms in Pakistan as well as steps taken for the social, economic and political empowerment of women, the press release said.

Ms. Fiskaa appreciated Pakistan's efforts and expressed Norway's desire to expand the cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting with U.K.'s Minister for Equalities, Lynne Feathersone, the two sides expressed their desire to engage closely on improving women's rights well as to benefit from mutual experiences.

Ms. Gilani also the strong commitment of the Government of Pakistan to take all possible steps for the uplift of the women and to ensure their full rights.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012