ISLAMABAD: A three-day dialogue between women parliamentarians of Pakistan, United Kingdom and Afghanistan will start in the capital today (Thursday).
The dialogue is being organised by Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) in collaboration with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA-UK Branch). It aims to foster bilateral relations between women MPs besides strengthening their role in legislatures and broadening the understanding of issues impacting women across their respective countries.
During the course of their stay in Islamabad, women MPs would ponder over various issues, including education, maternal healthcare and socio-economic development.
The UK delegation is being led by Lord Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D’Souza whereas Dr Golalai Nur Safi, an MP, would be leading the Afghan delegation. The Pakistani delegation would comprise women members of the National Assembly and Senate.
Dr Fehmida Mirza, the patron of WPC, will inaugurate the dialogue at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS), Islamabad by delivering a keynote address.
Federal ministers for national health services and regulations and education have been invited to give the participants an insight into the government policies and initiatives in respect of healthcare and education in Pakistan.
It may be recalled that WPC was established when Dr Fehmida Mirza was speaker of the National Assembly. Under her leadership, the Caucus had been actively engaged in building networks with colleagues from friendly countries besides initiating landmark pro-women and children legislation in the Pakistani legislature.
The WPC and CPA-UK branch considering the importance of promotion of women in all spheres of society to be fundamental for socio-economic development and political empowerment embarked upon the Parliamentary Partnership Programme in 2012. The current dialogue is the continuation of that programme.
