ISLAMABAD: Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Rights and the Prime
Minister’s daughter Fizza Batool Gilani Saturday said that the
government took concrete steps to protect women rights.
Addressing
a Rural Development Conference coinciding with International Rural
women Day here at Lok Virsa, she said that the government is committed
to do more for women empowerment.
She said that the women in
rural areas of Pakistan are not only facing economic difficulties but
also lack health facilities. She expressed her delight over Pakistan’s
decision to accept observance of Rural Women Day as UN is already
observimg it.
Turning to the government step for women
development and protection of their rights, she said that women were
protected by approving anti sexual harassment bill. Rs. 50 billion per
annum are provided to the women in rural areas under BISP, she added.
The goodwill Ambassador said that 70 percent beneficiaries under the
programme were rural women. 45 million families are benefiting from the
programme, she informed.
She said that a programme under BISP was planned according to which a woman to be pain Rs. 1 lac if head of her family dies.
Fiza
Gilani paid tribute to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who established Women
Circes Center for women victim of violence. To eradicate poverty in
rural areas, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani realized the concept
of ‘Aik Hunar, Aik Nagar’, she further said. ‘Aik Hunar, Aik Nagar’
is an instution coordinating efforts among craftsmen, designers,
organizations of micro-finance, local administration and the provincial
governments, she elaborated.
She said that Ms. Bhutto had already started Lady Health Workers Programme for women in rural areas.
Paying
tribute to rural women, Fizza Gilani said that they are part of
national economy, agriculture, development and are a symbol of peace.
She said that efforts are afoot for women development and empowerment
but such steps would never succeed until husbands’ behavior and attitude
are not changed. Online
