ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday said that women parliamentarian networks could build alliances to effectively support their oversight, legislative and representative roles at the parliament for achieving social justice for all in democratic societies.
The Speaker, in his inaugural address here at the three-day 'International Conference on the Role of Women Parliamentarians in Strengthening Democracy and Social Justice,' applauded the role of women parliamentarians in Pakistan as well as around the world.
Women, he said, had paid a heavy price for their unwavering struggle and resilience to that effect.
Besides women parliamentarians, academicians and diplomats, 29 women members of parliament (MPs) from 12 countries, including Australia, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Romania, Sri Lanka and Turkey, attended the moot organized by the Women's Parliamentary Caucus (WPC).
Sardar Ayaz said women parliamentarians around the globe made up 23 per cent of legislators and 8 per cent of peace agents.
"Our WPC has been highly effective and efficient being the instrument of change always actively involved in crucial legislation on issues of women, children and vulnerable segments of society," he added.
The Speaker said women members of the present National Assembly had performed exceptionally as 60 per cent parliamentary business was conducted by them.
He said the women parliamentarians were performing their roles in different capacities such as parliamentary secretaries. They were always well prepared as compared to their male counterparts, ministers and chairmen of parliamentary committees, he added.
Sardar Ayaz also highlighted the working of Sustainable Development Goals Parliamentary Task Force, which, he said, had helped push the human rights and social security agenda of the country.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of the prime minister, also spoke at the conference on behalf of First Lady Mrs Kalsoom Nawaz.
Former NA Speaker and WPC Patron-in-Chief Dr Fehmida Mirza and WPC Secretary Shaista Pervaiz Malik also addressed the inaugural session.
It was followed by penal discussion, in which the participants stressed the need for a new social contract based on solidarity between all segments of society, as imperative for achieving sustainable goals.
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