Govt ready to approve women’s rights protection bill: Sumaira
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik said Tuesday government was ready to get passed women’s rights protection bill in next session of National Assembly, starting from November 10 and would help ensure dignified status and position for them.
She was talking to media persons at a photo exhibition of earthquake victims by Ahmjad Hussain, a photo journalist, here. “The government is committed to making women self-reliant and provide them a respectable place in society through various measures like enactment of women’s rights protection bill”, she observed.
She said the government has taken measures, having evolved consensus in the larger interest of the country and the bill had been drafted in line with teachings of Quran-o-Sunnah, so it should not be used for political interests.
She said the women were contributing their valuable services for the prosperity and development of the country and their numerical strength was visible in every department as a result of the government’s sincere steps like,besides other measures, enhancement of their representation at national and local level.
She said the government was alive to the difficulties being faced by women and the ministry’s programmes including, besides other projects,’Women’s Political School, IT training for women councillors and Community Campaign to prevent violence against women” were yield concrete results and empowering the segment at grassroots level.
She also appreciated National Volunteer Movement for its valuable services for extending relief in quake-hit areas, adding owing to its effective rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts, the movement had turned into an institution.