Pakistan Gender News Voice of Gender News From Pakistan
JHANG, April 05,2005: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday criticised individuals who do not allow women to take part in games like the marathon race.
Addressing a public gathering at Shafqat Shaheed ground, Mr Elahi slammed those against the participation of women in games and said such individuals exploited women when they needed votes and even sent their women to parliament and the provincial assemblies for their vested interests.
Women constitute 50 percent of the country’s population and it is their basic right to participate in games, said the Punjab chief minister. He said Islam ensured the safety and security of all sections of society.
Eulogising President General Pervez Musharraf, Mr Elahi said the president’s policies had put Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity. He rejected the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s politics of agitation and said the general public had denounced the alliance’s call for protests. He said that traders and shopkeepers were happy with the government’s policies but the opposition was creating anarchy to achieve their selfish interests. The Punjab chief minister said Pakistan’s education programme, especially Punjab’s education campaign, was appreciated by all quarters.
He announced a large development package for Jhang district and said that he would lay the foundation stone of Rivaz Bridge near Chund village on River Chenab. He also announced another bridge on River Chenab at Shorkot and an industrial estate near Jhang, the construction of the Shahjewana-Kot Esa Shah road, a degree college, and upgradation of the Government Ghazali College to degree level. Mr Elahi also announced Rs 30 million for sports activities in the district.
He said the standard at all tehsil headquarter hospitals of the district would be improved and he announced 4,500 square feet of land for the office of Traders Union and 9,500 square feet of land for the office of the Jhang Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He granted Rs 1 million for the Jhang District Bar Association and Rs 500,000 for the Jhang Press Club. He also promised ownership rights after a survey of slums in the district.
Source: Daily Times
Date:4/5/2005
