THATTA: Dutch ambassador H. Gajus Scheltema has stressed women`s role in nation building and development of society and urged rural women to play their role in bringing about a change in their areas.

Addressing a meeting of rural women, who have formed a women protection network in Soomar Jokhio village near here on Sunday, Mr Scheltema said Netherlands was smaller than Pakistan in terms of population, but it was growing rapidly in all spheres of life because of empowerment and participation of women. He said his country laid stress on education of girls.

Roobina Lashari, general secretary of the Women Protection Network, said the network had been formed

with the support of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation in the wake of last year`s devastating floods.

She said the network was playing an active role in addressing women`s problems, their protection and participation in the activities of the civil society.

A group of women presented gifts and souvenirs to guests.

The ambassador held a meeting with representatives of civil society organisations in Khamiso Khan Samoon village.

During the meeting, Allah Jurio Burfat, general secretary for Human Development Network, highlighted local issues pertaining to human rights.

He said that training received by their activists had enabled them to raise local issues at the provincial level.

The network conducted a survey of 106 government schools damaged by the floods and approached the education department for their rehabilitation.

The Dutch ambassador said he himself belonged to a coastal area and was aware of problems faced by such areas.

He later visited the SPO project office in Thatta where he was informed that with the support of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, 266 community infrastructure schemes had been implemented in Shah Bandar taluka and 56 government schools buildings had been repaired.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/21/2011