Day: December 13, 2012

The United States Senior Adviser for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Robin L Raphel has announced to establish Pak-US Women Council, expressed the hope that it could play effective role for development of women entrepreneurship in the Pakistan. This, she stated while addressing to members of Women Commerce of Commerce and Industry (WCCI), here at the chamber on Wednesday.

On the occasion, the chairperson women chamber, Ms Fitrat Ilyas Bilour, president KPWCCI Nushat Rauf, and vice president Shumama Arbab, the president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Mohammad Yousaf Sarwar, Vice presidents, Malik Iftikhar Awan, Anees Ashraf, members of executive body, and US consul general in Peshawar, Robert G Reed were present.

The US senior adviser and WCCI have agreed that both sides would joint carryout out efforts and work for economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs and development of their businesses. By announcing the establishment of Pak-US Women Council, Ms Raphel said that it was a good step for development of women entrepreneurship in Pakistan.

Ms Raphel informed that Pak-US Women Council would establish in Lahore in first phase, which could be expanded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. “US government is committed for economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, she reiterated. She added that Washington would take further steps in this regard.

She appreciated the efforts of WCCI for supporting women entrepreneurs and development of their businesses in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She expressed the hope that the women businessperson would take maximum benefits from initiatives by the WCCI. Nushat Rauf and Shumama Arab, while speaking on the occasion, informed that the US visiting delegation about the initiatives taken by WCCI for economic development of women entrepreneurs in KP and tribal region. They welcomed the establishment of Pak-US Women Council in Lums, Lahore, demanding for presentation of women chamber and entrepreneurs from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the council.

On the occasion, SCCI president, Dr Sarwar Yousaf in his address stressed the need to take further steps for economic development of women entrepreneurs in the province, appreciated the US government initiatives in this regard. He informed that SCCI and WCCI were jointly taking steps for economic empowerment of women in the province.

Business Recorder

ISLAMABAD: Nearly three quarters of young Pakistani girls are not enrolled in primary school and the number finishing five years in education has declined, a new UN and government report showed Wednesday.

The findings expose the miserable state of education for millions in Pakistan, where the Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai in the head in October to silence her campaign for the right to an education.

“Nearly half of primary school age children are not enrolled in school and among eligible girls the out of school proportion is closer to three-quarters. In absolute numbers, out-of-school girls outnumber their male counterparts,” it said.

“Completion rates to the fifth year of schooling have actually declined in the past five years,” it said. Fifty-five percent of all Pakistani adults are illiterate and among women the rate is closer to 75 percent, it added.

The report said women are denied their basic right to education and to a decent life. “Females in Pakistan face discrimination, exploitation and abuse at many levels, starting with girls who are prevented from exercising their basic rights to education either because of traditional family practices, economic necessity or as a consequence of the destruction of schools by militants.”

On Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari pledged $10 million to help educate all girls by 2015 as part of a global fund set up in Malala’s name.

Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala’s father, a former teacher and headmaster, has been appointed to help meet the global target. His daughter, who is being treated in a British hospital after the attack on her school bus on October 9, will herself join the campaign when she is better.

Saba Gul Khattak, a member of Pakistan’s planning commission, confirmed that the country was lagging behind on its Millennium Development Goals, including on education.

The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR: The hysteria over teenage activist Malala Yousafzai took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when girls in Swat Valley protested against the renaming of their school after the 15-year-old icon, fearing the move would make them a target for militants.

Around 150 students boycotted classes at what is now the Government Malala College for Girls in Saidu Sharif, Swat Valley, tearing up and stoning pictures of Malala and accusing her of abandoning Pakistan by going to Britain for treatment.

The government has renamed numerous schools in honour of Malala, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in October for championing girls’ education in Swat and is now recuperating in a British hospital.

The students at what was previously known as the Government College for Girls said they had repeatedly asked the principal to remove the new nameplate, fearing it would invite the attention of militants.

“We came out when the principal finally refused to accept our demand,” student Shaista Ahmed said. “We feel the college would be the potential target of militants.

“I joined others who chanted slogans against Malala and pelted her picture with stones because she had left the country to settle abroad. We are poor, we cannot afford it and we will suffer because she has fled to Britain.”

Local government official Niaz Ali Khan told AFP the protesting students were “very angry and aggressive” and tore up a portrait of Malala, which the authorities had erected on a college wall after the Taliban attack. “The students ended their protest after we promised to convey their demand to the authorities,” he said.

Student Mah Noor, 19, said: “Malala herself is in Britain but other girls will remain in Swat. She will not come back to Pakistan, then what is the need to rename the college after her?”

The Express Tribune

By: Khalilur Rehman Bacha

MINGORA: Scores of students on mounted a demonstration in protest against the renaming of their college in Saidu Sharif as the “Government Post-Graduate Malala Yousufzai College for Girls” and set a three-day deadline for the reversal of the decision.

A group of students resorted to hurling stones at and tearing up of a giant portrait of Malala installed in front of the college building. They cited security concerns as the main reason behind their protest.

The enraged students chanted slogans against the government and said the decision to rename their college had made them vulnerable to militant attacks. They said they would continue to hold demonstrations against the move until the decision was withdrawn.

The authorities named the college after Malala in recognition of her stance on girls’ education following an unsuccessful attempt by Taliban to eliminate her. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Birmingham. Police reached the college to control the situation and district administration officials tried to pacify the students.

Later, Swat DCO Kamran Rehman told journalists that police, army men and paramilitary personnel had been put on ‘red alert’ to remove the apprehensions of the students. Talking to Dawn, Mr Rehman criticised the students for tearing up Malala’s portrait and said the 15-year-old girl had put her life in danger for the sake of the other girls of Swat.

He said that on his own he could not reverse the decision but added that he would forward the protesters’ demands to higher authorities. Mr Rehman said all arrangements had been made to ensure the security and safety of the students.

Dawn