‘UK impressed with gender equality in Pakistan’

ISLAMABAD: UK Special Representative for Gender Equality Ms. Joanna Roper on Wednesday called on the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/Minister of State for Law and Justice Zafarullah Khan at Ministry of Law and Justice.

Zafarullah Khan and Joanna Roper discussed the gender equality particularly about the empowerment of women in Pakistan. He said that elimination of discrimination against women is our top priority. “We are committed to ensure women their rightful place in society”, he said adding that women in Pakistan continue to play a pivotal role in our national development and prosperity.

He further said that Pakistan has made a lot of progress in political empowerment of women as reserved seats for women representatives have been kept at all levels. Zafarullah Khan said that honour killing was also one of the most critical problems that Pakistan had been facing and the government was determined to adopt all possible ways to remove this stain from the society, in this regard Pakistan passes anti-honour killing and anti-rape bills, which guarantee mandatory prison sentences of 25 years and strips families of the right to legally pardon the perpetrators of so-called “honour killings”, a practice that has allowed some of murderers to walk free. We have also criminalised early and forced marriages.

Enhanced women participation in modern society is mandatory in order to ensure prosperous economy. Minister of State for Law and Justice Zafarullah Khan further said that Pakistan and Uk enjoy deep-rooted relations, based on shared history, experiences, and same eye for equality, reinforced by strong people to people contact. This relationship between two countries he said not only serves our national interests but also contributes to stability in our region and beyond.

Meanwhile, Uk Special envoy Joanna Roper appreciated Barrister Zarfullah Khan for his commitment to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedom, says a press release.