Women’s rolein LG institutions sought

Lahore

Democracy is incomplete without ensuring women’s due political representation in local government institutions and decision-making process at the local level.

These views were expressed by the speakers at a ceremony held to awards certificates  among the participants of two-day capacity-building training on the topic of “Strengthening Women Political Leadership in Local Governance Systems” organised by an NGO in collaboration with US Agency for International Development under its Small Grants and Ambassador's Fund Program (SGAFP) at Town Hall, Lahore, on Wednesday.

The speakers said the capacity-building training would help the new layer of elected women leaders to play their due democratic role effectively in the local councils to strengthen democracy at the local level.

Lahore Metropolitan Corporation Lord Mayor Col (Rtd) Mubashir Javaid,  Executive Director of the NGO Bushra Khaliq, Aurat Foundation Resident Director Ms Mumtaz Mughal, Election Commission of Pakistan PRO Ms Huda Ali were also present.

The Lahore lord mayor distributed certificates among the participants and appreciating the initiative taken by the NGO. He assured his support to the much-needed initiative for women's political empowerment at the local level.Bushra Khaliq said women must come forward to play their political role. She said 600 women had been imparted training. She also said that all the 700 women elected in the district would be imparted training. She demanded the process for capacity building of the newly-elected women councillors at various levels of local government in districts of Lahore and Nakana Sahib.

Talking about the objectives of the training, she said it was to not only make the women councillors better understand local governance system and functions in Punjab but also to equip them with better knowledge about pro-women laws and women rights.

The training also aims at sharpening the leadership and political skills of women councillors, enabling them to play their effective role in local government structures, she added. 

The participants lauded the initiative.

debate competition: Punjab University’s students from various departments participated in All Pakistan Debating Championship “War of Words IV” organised by a private university and have shown outstanding performance by clinching top positions.

According to details, students, including Muhammad Abu Bakar, Sameen Fawad Khan and Shehroz Ayub won team trophy in English debate while in this competition, Salman Farrukh, Shehan Zafar and Amnah Khan qualified for semi-final. Muhammad Abu Bakar got English Speaker Award. PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir congratulated the students on their achievements.