NCSW committed to boosting women’s role in society

MULTAN: The National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) is committed to boosting the role of women in the society, empowering them at the grassroots level.

NCSW Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar, addressing a meeting held at South Punjab Secretariat here on Tuesday, emphasized the pivotal role of women in national development. She highlighted the importance of providing business opportunities to women, not only to enhance their financial independence but also to drive prosperity across Pakistan, ultimately boosting the overall GDP. She said preparations were underway for an upcoming United Nations conference in March, focusing on “Women and Economy”. She stressed the need to incorporate data from South Punjab women into recommendations to be presented at the conference.

She acknowledged the establishment of the Anti-Rape Crisis Cell (ARCC) in Multan as a major step, and emphasized the need for setting up similar cells in Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and other districts. She pledged to enhance the effectiveness of the Violence against Women Centre and expressed determination to secure land for the Multan Women Chamber of Commerce’s building.

South Punjab Secretary Specialized Healthcare Nasir Afzal Khan briefed her on challenges of poverty eradication among women in South Punjab. He highlighted the Deep Dive Conference attended by ambassadors from 43 countries and international organization representatives, aimed at formulating action plans for women’s development in South Punjab. He said the focus of the South Punjab Secretariat was on increasing literacy rate and bolstering the agriculture sector to alleviate poverty among rural women. Efforts have been made to raise awareness about gender equality and women’s rights through various workshops. He said the first Anti-Rape Crisis Cell in Punjab had been established in Multan, with 11 cases reported in the past three months. He said measures such as anti-harassment committees in government offices and provision of separate washrooms for women had been taken to ensure the safety and dignity of working women. Hospitals are under construction in Multan, DG Khan, Layyah and Bahawalnagar as part of a mother and child healthcare program.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Farooq Dogar, Deputy Secretary Abdul Sabur Thakur and Section Officers Ahmad Rana, Wajiha Rasool and Ms Bariha.