Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Speaker National Assembly Asad
Qaiser has said that prosperous and empowered women are integral
for socio-economic development of the country. He said that bright
future of the country is unthinkable without inclusion of women in the
main socio-economic stream. He said that the role of women at
leadership level would help women especially Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs) to play their active role in the development of the country. He
expressed these views while addressing an event in connection with
celebration of Women day with a theme “Women in Leadership:
Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” in the Parliament
House.
Speaker Asad Qaiser addressing the gathering said that the
Government is committed to support women as a topmost priority. It’s
time to recognize the role of women and take substantial steps for
ensuring equal participation of women in legislation. Gender equality
cannot be achieved without ending violence against women and girls. I
take courage to inform you all that your assembly is taking special
initiatives for persons with disabilities. I pay homage to all the women
with disabilities who contribute to our society. I have also formed a
special Sub-Committee on PWDs under the leadership of Ms. Munaza
Hassan. Women need to be encouraged and motivated and the
present government was committed for the protection of women’s
rights and providing them safe environment. In order to give women
their due status, we also need to change the mindset and behavior.
Joint efforts are needed to bring them into mainstream.”
Speaker National Assembly later distributed wheel chairs and shields
amongst the women with disabilities to honor their efforts and
contributions. Speaker officially launched a Dashboard for persons with
disabilities (PWD) created by Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.
Secretary Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Munaza Hassan in her
welcome remarks said that International Women’s Day is marked to
highlight gender inequality around the world, raising awareness of the
need for change and celebrating those who are already working
towards a fairer and more equal world. This year’s International
Women’s Day comes as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19
pandemic and its staggering impacts on women – from being pushed
into poverty, to loss of jobs as the informal economy shrinks, to
alarming spike in domestic violence and unpaid care burden. The
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus is a cross party forum to ensure
continuous and sustainable parliamentary discourse on gender-related
issues. The Caucus provides a forum for all women to join hands and
raise above party-lines to represent, legislative and oversee challenges
to women political, economic, social and cultural participation.
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus aims to enhance women’s role in
participating in Parliamentary issues. It is a milestone in Pakistan’s
Parliamentary history and a boost to the cause of Women’s rights in
Pakistan.”
Ms. Lina Mousa, Country Representative UNFPA commended the WPC’s
role in promoting the agenda of women’s rights and leadership in the
country. “It is great to be with you to celebrate International Women’s
Day 2021. I would like to start by acknowledging the remarkable
efforts of the National Assembly and Women Parliamentary Caucus for
the leading this event which reflects the strong commitment of
National Assembly to the cause of gender equality through achieving
equal future in a COVID-19 world. The pandemic has strained
healthcare systems, widened social-economic divides, and shifted
priorities of public and private institutions including allocation of
resources for women issues, deepened inequalities thus escalating
gender based violence. Women and girls are disproportionately
affected, however, women’s roles has been exemplary during COVID-
19 response,” she stated.
Women parliamentarians from several political parties as well as
representatives from the government, media fraternity and civil
society also participated in the event and pledged to put in efforts for
supporting women and girls in Pakistan. They promised to play an
active role in freeing the country from all forms of gender-based
violence and discrimination. The event was attended by Deputy
Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, parliamentarians,
representatives of the government, women Achievers, civil society and
media, both virtually and in-person at the National Assembly.
The event was jointly arranged by the National Assembly, Federal
Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Step Pakistan and UNFPA
Pakistan to kick off the International Women’s Day. With the current
COVID-19 pandemic situation, “Women in leadership: Achieving an
equal future in a COVID-19 world”.
