Message of Raja Pervez Ashraf Prime Minister of Pakistan On International Women’s Day (8TH MARCH, 2013)

Pakistan joins the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day today. The day provides an opportunity to take stock of state of women rights and acknowledge their services and contributions towards development of their state and society.

The selection of this year’s theme “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women” highlights the urgency of putting women rights agenda at the heart of public policy.

Women participation is pivotal for sustainable development. No society can grow unless it encourages its women to play their role in its development as active partners. It is our national duty to protect the interests of women and provide them equal opportunities.

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first woman Prime Minister, always placed women’s empowerment agenda at the top of her priorities. She encouraged women to come forward and contribute to the national progress. She was a powerful voice for women rights and worked tirelessly for their empowerment.

The present democratic government has carried out a series of reforms to improve the state of women rights in the country. We have passed effective legislation to address women issues with a view to safeguarding their rights.

Besides increasing their quota in federal jobs, the present government also appointed a women ombudsperson to look into problems of women and redress their grievances. BISP, the government’s flagship program in the social sector, aims at empowering women economically through cash grants and other schemes. The government also conferred more administrative and economic powers on the National Commission on Status of Women to make its working autonomous and effective. These measures are reflective of the government’s commitment and sincere efforts to address women-related issues for their greater participation in the national mainstream.

Today, women in Pakistan are active in the fields of education, economy, health, social welfare, business and law including police, army, air force and other traditional and non-traditional fields.

I call upon the civil society, NGOs, international development partners, media, corporate sector and particularly the women themselves to come forward and play their role for protection of women’s rights. I am glad to note that the Ministry of Human Rights is making all out efforts for protection and promotion of Women’s Rights in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in the country.