WPB a major step forward to protect women: PM

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the Women Protection law which has now come in force is a major step towards giving more protection to women in Pakistan and said that government is committed to taking more legislative measures to end discrimination against them.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to a group of parliamentarians comprising Federal Minister for Population Welfare Ch. Shahbaz Hussain, MNA Mr. M.P. Bhandara and Senators Ms. Razina Alam Khan, Ms. Gulshan Saeed and Ms. Kalsum Parveen, who called on him at the PM’s House Saturday.
The Prime Minister said that it is gratifying to note that the government of PML and its allies is the first one in the country’s history which has taken a number of steps to protect the rights of women including allocating 33 per cent seats for them in the local government which are filled through direct elections. In addition to this, he said, seats are reserved for women in all provincial and national assemblies while their quota in federal government jobs has also been increased.
He said that women constitute half of the country’s population and the nation cannot progress without their active participation. As a result of the reforms introduced by the government more and more women are now joining various government departments including the armed forces, he added.
The parliamentarians appreciated the efforts made by the government for ensuring that the new law is in complete accordance with the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah. They regretted that members of the Opposition, instead of appreciating the positive step taken by the government, are politicizing the issue.
Ch. Shahbaz Hussain briefed the Prime Minister about the steps being taken by his ministry for the welfare of the citizens. The Prime Minister said that the ministry must gear up efforts to further bring down the population growth rate. He emphasized the need for involving *ulema *in persuading the people, particularly those in the rural areas.
The parliamentarians also updated the Prime Minister on the status of ongoing development schemes in their constituencies. The Prime Minister said that the elected representatives have the responsibility of ensuring that the benefits of high economic growth continue to trickle down to the grassroots level.
Special Assistant to Prime Ministe Commander (Retd.) Khalil ur Rahman also attended the meeting.—Agencies