By: Abrar Hamza
KARACHI: Sindh government has endorsed the proposals by Federal Ministry of Law (MoL), Justice and Human Rights for Women Empowerment Package and the Sindh Women Development Department (WDD) in this regard has initiated efforts, Daily Times learnt.
Answering to MoL on recommendations regarding female representation in public sector employment, WDD fully endorsed the said proposal while government is ready to take initiatives to increase the quota to at least 33 percent female representation in all public sector institutions and decision making bodies (boards, commissioners etc).
According to a copy of an official letter available with Daily Times, MoL recommended various plans to Sindh WDD under Women Empowerment Package. As Federal Ministry advised Sindh WDD to make special emphasis on science and technology education in girls school, productive health care at the federal and provincial level, women 33 percent representation in all tiers of local government and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and provincial level, include female workers of agriculture and fisheries in the category of labour and recognise women as farmers, enact legislation against domestic violence and establishment of provincial commission on the status of women for effective and collective efforts for their empowerment.
Federal Ministry proposed to Sindh government to establish a Provincial Commission on the status of women for effective and collective efforts for Women’s Empowerment. In this regard, Sindh WDD informed Federal Ministry the Department has forwarded the Bill on ‘Provincial Commission on status of Women’ to its Law Department for comments and for its placement before the Sindh Assembly (SA).
In response, Sindh government’s WDD said it has already given emphasis on science and technology education especially to girls while the health department was being requested to make necessary legislation in the matter.
Regarding 33 percent women representation in all tiers of local government and ICT and provincial level, Sindh WDD replied the Department has endorsed the recommendations and requested to local government department for necessary legislation in the matter.
Sindh Labour Department has already made progress including female workers of agriculture and fisheries in the category of labour and recognise women as farmers. The SA has already passed domestic violence Act 2013 on March 8, 2013 while the said law was under process of implementation, said Sindh WDD.
