Day: August 25, 2011

LAHORE: Journalists from electronic, broadcast and print mediums discussed issues of gender equity and women empowerment in the context of media reporting, at a workshop hosted by Aurat Foundation in partnership with USAID and Individualland Pakistan (IL-Pakistan).

The USAID-supported Gender Equity Programme (GEP) was aimed at sensitising the media on the way gender and women issues are reported in the media. Shaukat Ali Ashraf moderated the event, while Rehana Shaikh was the key resource person for the event, on behalf of IL-Pakistan.

The discussions focused on the sensitivity of communicating women related issues through media and selection of appropriate messages in this regard. On the second and final day, President Electronic Media Shahid Ali, and Faisalabad Electronic Media Secretary GA Tanveer, were the chief guests of the event and distributed certificates among the participants at the conclusion of the session.

IL-Pakistan has been an active, non-partisan organisation since its inception, and has worked on pertinent issues regarding governance, rule of law, media communication skills, strengthening civil society and democratic development.

Gender inequality is one of the most pressing issues in Pakistan. Social taboos, religious and cultural elements are among the leading factors that result in a society that does not believe in gender equity. IL-Pakistan also conducted a base line survey to find trends and perceptions of various media projections among the communities. The project will also contribute to lobbying and advocacy of this important issue by using media platforms, particularly to influence the policy formulation process. The US government, through USAID and in partnership with the Aurat Foundation, had launched a five-year GEP in Pakistan in 2010 to advance human rights and support Pakistani government’s policies against gender inequities. More sensitisation sessions will be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad and Multan.

Source: Daily Times

Date:8/25/2011

Karachi: Under the supervision of the director of the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies (CEWS) and founder of Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Niswan (ATN), Prof Dr Nasreen Aslam, a self-employed women’s fund, has been established for home-based women workers.

The fund has been established with the cooperation of generous personalities of the city. The fund would be a resource pool for these home-based women workers in the form of interest-free loan which would be provided up to Rs10,000, a press release issued on Wednesday said.

The aim of the self-employed women’s fund is to provide loans to improve and strengthen the business of home-based women workers. The loans would be provided on easy terms and conditions to deserving women. The loans would be given before Eidñul-Fitr to the women of Landhi Town 2-C area and 10 women are selected through a draw.

Source: The News

Date:8/25/2011

LAHORE: The Punjab government has reportedly refused to accept women crisis centres in the province, asking the federal government to take appropriate action regarding their future.

The centres have been devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.But, sources said on Wednesday, all other provinces had accepted them. The viewpoint of the Punjab government was that it was not feasible to run the centres in the presence of its own Darul Amaans performing the same functions.

Sources said there were 12 such centres in Punjab, which were established by the federal government. They said the provincial government had also expressed its reservations about the centres when they were being established on the ground that it was running Darul Amaans having the similar mandate in every district.

“One cannot run two institutions providing the same service,” sources said.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women has expressed its concern over what it claimed the Punjab government’s decision to close down women crisis centres in the province, urging the chief minister to reconsider the decision.

In a letter to the chief minister, the NCSW has urged him to retain the centres which are providing highly needed and valuable services to women victims of violence.

The letter says that in most cases, the violence against women is perpetrated by their close family members and occurs at home, therefore, it becomes impossible for the victims to feel comfortable and stay safe at the same place and they have to take shelter at a safe place, patronised by the state where they are provided with required services and support.

Through the letter, the Commission has also highlighted the different roles being played by ‘Darul Amaan’ and crisis centres.

In ‘Darul Amaan’, it says, only those women are kept who are sent through the courts and their cases are pending whereas any woman who becomes victim of violence can go to a crisis centre for help.

These crisis centres are working round the clock and providing counseling and legal services at the same time and playing a vital role in providing immediate relief to women.

The commission has also appreciated personal commitment of the chief minister towards promoting women’s rights agenda in his province and urged him to continue to play his vital role in providing relief to women victims of violence.

Source: Dawn

Date:8/25/2011

MARDAN/GHALANAI: Militants blew up a government school in Mardan district and attacked several checkposts in Mohmand Agency on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sabir Gul, the SHO of Jabbar police station in Mardan, told Dawn that unidentified militants had planted explosives in a room of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sawldher that went off at 1:25am with a big bang.

“I along with other police officials was on routine patrolling of the area when the explosion occurred,” he said, adding that they rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area.

He said that the blast completely destroyed two rooms and a veranda while boundary wall and two other rooms of the school building were partially damaged.

However, the explosion caused no loss of human life as the school was empty at the time of the blast. “We launched a search operation soon after the explosion in the surrounding areas and arrested several suspected persons,” Mr Gul said.

According to officials of Bomb Disposal Unit, 14 to 15 kilograms of explosives were used in the explosion.

It is pertinent to mention here that a week ago the main gate and wall of a government middle school for girls in Gujrat Bashkhali area were partially damaged in a blast.

Meanwhile, militants attacked several checkposts in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to sources, militants used light weapons to attack the checkposts in Karir, Dwajangi, Qayumabad and Hashim Kor areas of Safi tehsil.

Security forces retaliated and targeted suspected positions in the area along the border. No report of casualty was received from the area.

In another incident, a tribesman was injured when a stray shell hit a house in the Safi tehsil during the night. The injured, identified as Jamil, was shifted to Peshawar in critical condition.

Source: Dawn

Date:8/25/2011