Punjab gender parity report and gender management information launched

CM links progress to education, equal opportunities to women

LAHORE

The first-ever Punjab Gender Parity Report 2016 and Punjab Gender Management Information System was introduced in a launch ceremony attended by government departments, NGOs, legislative departments, women rights activists, civil society members and a number of women working in various fields as well as housewives. The launch was co-hosted by Punjab Commission on the Status of Women and the Urban Unit with an objective to unveil the positive impacts of compilation of first Punjab Gender Parity Report and Gender MIS in order to promote gender equality as well as transparency in government’s steps related to legislation, policy and administration pertaining to women specifically.  

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that a major portion of Pakistan’s population comprises women and the country cannot progress without providing them education and equal opportunities of progress. 

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government had taken historic measures during last many years for the progress and empowerment of women. He said that the Punjab government had published the first Gender Parity Report in South Asia in the light of which further measures would be taken for the welfare and betterment of women so that they could play an active role for the socio-economic development of the society.

Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana while addressing the ceremony said that the Punjab government had taken a lead through the launch of Gender Parity Report 2016 which was a matter of pleasure for the whole nation.

“The Punjab government is committed to bring about a positive change in the lives of women across the province and Punjab Women Empowerment Initiative PWEI and Punjab Women Empowerment Programme PWEP are both just an example of how seriously the government is working for the benefit of women. Punjab Gender Parity Report 2016 and Gender MIS are likely to add to the already in place initiatives of the provincial government started in order to empower women”, Hameeda Waheedudin said while addressing the participants.     

Begum Zakia Shahnawaz appreciated the role of PCSW saying, “No power in the world can undermine the role of women in progress and prosperity of a society. It’s time that women in Pakistan especially Punjab assert their rights and seek much needed help from institutions like PCSW so as to have their basic rights acquired. Awareness on how to seek legal help is very vital as far as women empowerment is concerned.”  

Fouzia Viqar said that the Punjab Gender Parity Report 2016 provides a comprehensive analytical study on the status of women in Punjab for the first time. It illustrates the socio-economic wellbeing of women in Punjab, through an examination of about 300 indicators spanning all the significant areas of a woman’s life. “The main thematic areas covered in the report include demographics and governance, health, education, economic cooperation and opportunities, legal rights and violence against women,” she said.