Initiatives for women’s empowerment highlighted

Islamabad

Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Michael said the government of Pakistan was pursuing an integrated policy for women empowerment underpinned by legal, institutional, and administrative measures.

"Our long-term national planning framework ‘Vision 2025’ commits to pursue women empowerment as a key priority area across all sectors of planning and development. It focuses on providing an enabling environment to every woman to develop her full potential and to equally share benefits of economic and social development," he said representing Pakistan at the 6th Session of the Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of OIC Member States in Istanbul.

The theme of the conference was “The Status of Women in the OIC Member States in Light of the Current Challenges,” message received here said.

The meeting discussed matters concerning women empowerment and women’s role in the development of the OIC member states.

Delivering national statement on behalf of Pakistan, Kamran Michael said among others, an autonomous Commission on Status of Women, Benazir Income Support Programme, 10% quota for women in employment, setting up of Women Development Department at provincial level, and Economic Empowerment of Women through Prime Minister’s Youth Programme demonstrated a strong commitment of Pakistan to protect, promote and empower women in Pakistan.

He added that Pakistan was implementing Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women that had helped to mainstream women’s issues in national policies.

The minister also had interaction with other participating heads of delegations on the sidelines.

He met Fatma Betül, Minister for Family and Social Policy of Turkey, and Dr. Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and discussed matters of mutual interest.