National News

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP): On the special directives of Prime
Minister, fifty percent (50 percent) participation of women was
ensured in PM’s Youth Loan Schemes for the empowerment of women.
Pakistan is committed to meet the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the Goal 5 i.e. Gender Equality; Ending all forms
of discrimination against women and girls and for the purpose the
government has taken a number of steps.
Encouraging women employment it has announced a 10 percent
quota for women in public sector employment; Punjab raised
this to 15 percent and Sindh to 25 percent during the year 2016-17.
According to Economic Survey 2016-17, Punjab has lifted the
ban on recruitment and 25,000 posts for women have been
created at different tiers, and 70 percent of jobs in primary
education have been earmarked for women.
Moreover, Punjab Fair Representation of
Women Act 2014 ensures 33 percent representation of women on all
boards of statutory bodies, public sector companies,
etc.
The Waseela-e-Sehat (Life and Health Insurance) programs under
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), subsidizes healthcare for
beneficiaries and life insurance provided to one million women, the
premium is paid by the program.
Waseela-Taleem (Primary Education) under BISP encourages
beneficiary families to send their children ages 5-12 years to
school through a co-responsibility cash transfer of
Rs. 200/- per child (limit to three per family).
Being a state party to the Convention on Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Pakistan is
committed to implement its provisions in true spirit.
The government has already taken measures to ensure women’s
right as envisaged in the CEDAW.
Acknowledging `honor’ killings one of the most critical
problems facing the country, the present government has enacted
effective legislation to address women’s issues with a view to
safeguard their rights i.e. (Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences
in the name or pretext of Honour) Act, 2016) and (Criminal Law
(Amendment) (Offences Relating to Rape), 2016).
The women are being encouraged to fully
participate in electoral process and in this
regard a Gender Cell in Election Commission of Pakistan
has been established.