Economic self-reliance essential for women's empowerment: Shahbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that economic self - reliance of women is essential for women's empowerment, progress and prosperity of the country. He said Punjab govt had announced a comprehensive policy for the empowerment of women in 2012 under which revolutionary steps had been taken for the protection of their rights and their empowerment.
The CM said 33 percent quota of women has been fixed in governmental boards whereas their quota in government jobs has also been increased from five percent to 15 percent. He said contracts for running canteens in the educational institutions for women are also being given to women. Similarly, ownership of women inheritance has been made compulsory; a law has also been introduced for the protection of women in offices and their work places.
Shahbaz was talking to a delegation of an NGO Shirkatgah, which is working for the protection of women rights. The delegation headed by its Executive Director Farida Shaheed included Local and foreign delegates. Federal Minister for Water & Power Kh Muhammad Asif, Attorney General of Pakistan, Provincial Ministers Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, Hameeda Waheeduddin, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Syed Haroon Sultan, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Assembly Members Saba Sadiq, Farhana Afzal and concerned officers were present on the occasion.
The CM said Pakistani women are very talented and they have proved their metal in all sectors of life. The role of women including that of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and Raina Liaqat Ali Khan in Pakistan Movement was highly commendable. Shahbaz said Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto played a prominent role in the political field and was the first woman prime minister of the country. Upholding of women's and their protection is the collective responsibility of the society.
He said economic independence is essential for empowerment of women, women have to work side by side in the practical field after completion of their education, women living in villages work shoulder to shoulder with men in different sectors, thus women living in urban areas will also have to play their role in the process of national development.
The CM said as Islam has laid great stress on the rights of women. Punjab government is setting up special centers for provision of justice to the women who are subjected to violence; the foundation stone of first center has been laid in Multan where all necessary facilities will be available under one roof.
Federal Minister for Water & Power Kh Asif has said that a lot of work has still to be done for empowerment of women and collective efforts are required for this purpose. The participants of delegation said that Punjab government has taken effective steps for empowerment of women and Shahbaz Sharif is taking practical steps in the real sense for this purpose.