Women being empowered for playing effective role: Sehba

First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf has said the government is working on educating women on their rights and empowering them to play their due role in society in an effective manner.
"The focus is to empower women, to give them a sense of their own self worth - empowering them politically," she said in an interview to Saudi daily Arab News.
Begum Sehba Musharraf spoke about women's issues in Pakistan and the role of women in the government. She referred to the 33 percent increase in women seats in the local government elections and added that they have also been empowered in the National Assembly and the Senate. "Women are encouraged to use their common sense and intelligence on how to play their part in society and play it effectively."
The First Lady stated that the government is pursuing a strategy on implementing measures at the local and provincial levels to ensure that women are not marginalised, ignored or rejected, and that they are recognised politically as an important part of the society. More women have run in local elections and have won seats in recent years.
She said she was very strong supporter of the policies and initiatives for uplift of women and children. Arab News commented that President Musharraf has given a more prominent and greater role to women in government at all levels - as ministers, advisors, senators, members of parliament and at the local and provincial administrations.
"Women constitute 5O percent of our population, so it is common sense to include and empower them in such a way that they play a complimentary role in society", Begum Sehba Musharraf added.
She said empowering women and people at the grassroots level was among the main thrusts of President Musharraf's agenda to improve the economy and for that empowering the lower strata of society was essential. Nevertheless, the First Lady observed, women in Pakistan still have to overcome such obstacles as illiteracy, poverty and abuse.
Responding to a question on the evil of honour killing she said that it has been made a criminal act by the Assembly.
About Mukhtaran Mai, the First Lady regretted the unfortunate happening but pointed out that all developing societies, and even developed ones, have their problems. But, she added, in Pakistan unfortunately there are times when one event is treated as a focal point, and this (Mukhtaran Mai case) happened to be so and created an unfortunate impression about the country.
The First Lady said it is only a very minor segment of the population that mindlessly engages in the inhumane, unIslamic practices such as honour killing. "They have to be educated and made aware of what they are doing to their fellow human beings," she added.
Responding to a question, the First Lady said in her travels with President Musharraf, she tries to project Pakistan's interests.
The Paper commented that Begum Musharraf has taken more interest in issues since she became First Lady and she is certainly more visible than previous Pakistani first ladies.
"In this day and age, women have to be, if they can manage it, positively visible. I believe strongly that the nucleus of every society is the family and the lynchpin of that nucleus is the woman," she said.
To a question, the First Lady said the freedom struggle in Kashmir was another "very close issue to our heart".
"Through no fault of their own, Kashmiris were being dealt with unfairly," she said and expressed the hope that the dialogue process that has been initiated by President Musharraf with India will succeed.
She regretted that the disastrous earthquake added to Kashmir people's misery, but added the Pakistani government from day one made efforts for immediate recovery and rehabilitation which is going in full speed.
"Her ambitions for Pakistan is to see a quantum change that will bring it into the range of well-developed countries. As for women in Pakistan, she perceives the only challenge for them is being recognised for their achievements and valuable contributions to society, by the society and the media," the newspaper observed while concluding the report.