LAHORE, January 08 2006: Adviser to Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar said that the Hudood Ordinance was being repealed and a bill for giving property rights to women was being moved in the National Assembly.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on “Violence against Women and Eradication Meaures” organized by the Punjab Social Services Board at the Alhamra Art Centre here on Saturday January 7, she said that Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain had given the consent of the party for the repeal of the Hudood Ordinance at a meeting held at Islamabad recently.

She said that the government was making all possible efforts to change the destiny of women and had already taken a number of radical steps for the protection of their dignity and honour and giving them a place of respect and equal opportunities for progress in society.

She said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had realized the injustice being done to women after coming into power and had taken a number of steps for bringing them in the national mainstream. He had ensured their representation in the assemblies and local bodies by reserving 33 per cent seats for them and enhanced their employment quota.

She said that Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was also contributing to the efforts for improving the lot of women. He had sanctioned grant of stipend of Rs200 per month to girl students attending primary schools in the backward areas.

She called upon women councillors to raise their voice against gender discrimination, exploitation and social evils.

Women Development Federal Secretary Sohail Safdar said that the federal cabinet had approved a comprehensive gender reforms plan for creating awareness among women and launching a number of welfare projects for their empowerment at a cost of Rs321 million.

He said that the government had also instituted the National Fund for Rural Women which would create employment opportunities for more than 30,000 women. The prime minister had constiuted a national committee for the prevention of violence against women under the interior ministry.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/8/2006