Balochistan Assembly passes bill against women’s harassment

QUETTA: The lawmakers unanimously adopted a bill against harassment of women at workplaces.

Standing Committee on Social Welfare, Women Development and Zakat, Ushr and Hajj Minorities and Youth Affairs Chairperson Dr Shama Ishaq tabled the report pertaining to the Bill on Harassment against Women at Workplace. Provincial Minister Abdul Raheem Ziaratwal tabled the Harassment against Balochistan Women at Workplace Bill, 2015, which was passed unanimously by the House.

During the session, the lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution demanding swift action and steps to ensure provision of Information Technology in consultation with the provincial government

As Speaker Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani presided over the session, Ziaratwal tabled the resolution jointly moved by him and Nasrullah Khan, Liaquat Agha, Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Abdul Majeed Khan Achakzai, William Jan Barkat, Spozmai Achakzai, Masooma Hayat and Arifa Siddique.

The resolution reads that the Federal Information Technology Ministry has been assigned the task to provide facilities in backward areas including establishment of telecom projects, installation of broadband services, mobile towers, laying optical fibre cables, tele-centres, provision of broadband facility at high schools and colleges, provision of IT facility to help NADRA in issuance of certificates pertaining to birth death and marriage,, verification of mobile phone SIM and installation of solar energy to run Internet service in case of non-availability of electricity.

The resolution said that funds of billions were allocated but only seven per cent work of the laying fibre optical cable in Balochistan has so far been carried out.

It said that mobile towers were being installed in the province without consulting the provincial government.

The resolution recommend the provincial government to approach the federal government to make Federal Information Technology Ministry bound to consult with the provincial government while executing its projects in Balochistan besides provision of required facilities in the province.