Government concentrating on capacity building of women: Sumaira
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Women Development Sumaira Malik Wednesday said the government was concentrating on capacity building of women.
Talking to newsman, she said, the government was taking measures to open more opportunities of education and vocational training for women as this would help in their capacity building.
She said the government had launched many programmes for social uplift and economic empowerment of women.
The Minister said besides reserving 10 percent job quota in civil services, the government had also allocated enough amount for President’s Rozgar scheme for women.
She said loans to women would be given under President Rozgar scheme for setting up of businesses so that they could become economically secure.
Sumaira Malik said now women would be given more job opportunities in utility stores, textile sector and government and private departments. To a question she said the government had changed the Hudood Ordinance as it was used to exploit women. The new Women Protection Act would safeguard the rights of women, she added.
She said President Pervez Musharraf had announced a comprehensive plan for women adding the President had fulfilled his promises. She said it was the vision of President Pervez Musharraf to politically empower women by giving them policy and decision making roles.
She said the draft bill submitted to the National Assembly secretariat by Pakistan Muslim League President Ch. Shujaat Hussain would bring changes in the law of inheritance and divorce and declare illegal barter marriages, forced marriage, marriages with Quran and ‘Wani’ (marriage to resolve disputes).
She said the Women Protection Bill (WPB) was not against the teachings ofIslam adding the Council of Islamic Ideology had declared that women protection act was in accordance with Islam.
The Minister regretted that opposition had politicised the Women Protection Act for personal gains.