Allowance for women councilors widely hailed
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—Women across the society, especially councillors have welcomed president’s announcement to start monthly allowance worth Rs 2000, to the lady councillors, describing the decision a sagacious step to strengthen women representatives at the grass roots level for national prosperity.
President General Pervez Musharraf had announced the allowance at women convention held in connection with passage of women’s rights protection bill here. Minister of State for Education Anisa Zeb Thairkehli talking toAPP on Wednesday, described the decision a wise step, adding the president had met a long-standing demand of the women representatives at local and national level.
She said that role of women who constitute half of the country’s population could not be subtracted at local level government and the announcement of monthly allowance of Rs. 2000 would help give strength to the women leadership at the grass root level.
Federal Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik said the decision was a part of the government’s efforts to empower women in all respects and the allowance would encourage female representatives to serve masses with more dedication.
Chairperson National Commission on Status of Women Dr. Arifa Syeda Zehra said that “we welcome the president’s decision to start monthly allowance of two thousand rupees for women’s representatives at local level”, adding it would have far-reaching positive affects for lady representatives to progress for the prosperity of the whole society.
Sumaira Khan district council member of Rawalpindi said it was a wise decision on the part of the president, as, she added the financial incentive would encourage them with the realization they were given importance being representatives of the weakest portion of the society.
She also appreciated the ministry of women development’s role inannouncing the allowance, adding it was effectively building the women councillors’ capacity under a women political school programme to win acknowledgement through discharging responsibilities at the grass roots level.
Another district council member of Rawalpindi Nusrat Seraj saidthe present government had taken several measures to bring womenfolk into mainstream of development and the recent decision on allowance for women councillors was tantamount to acknowledgment of women’s services for national prosperity.
Sabrina Javed, head of Pakistan People’s Party’s (Sherpao group)women wing Rawalpindi, said “the credit also goes to Ministry of Women Development Women for it groomed women councillors under its programme titled women’s political school to wrench their rights.” Rehana Hashmi National Project Manager Project Manager Ministry of Women Development said that it was a matter of happiness for the whole staff of Women Political School project, besides women councillors, to see their efforts yielding concrete results.