ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that Pakistan was moving towards long-term stability, underscoring need to streamline affairs by learning ‘lessons from past’.

He unveiled Prime Minister’s Initiative for women empowerment. Addressing launching ceremony of programme which is being initiated at total cost of Rs 10.4 billion he said that country’s womenfolk were an effective and energetic segment of society, playing effective roles in families and society as mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.

He observed that in last 75 years, required opportunities for women empowerment were not sufficient and stressed upon making of further efforts for securing women rights including inheritance rights and creation of opportunities in conducive environment, so that they could contribute meaningfully and productively in society.

“Look around Muslims world and west, women have played their due role for progress and prosperity of their respective nations,” he added.

Lauding different prominent women personalities of country, he said that they had served as great ambassadors of Pakistan in different capacities. He said that there was no dearth of talent in Pakistan as they were blessed with great minds, but there was need to harness true potential with creation of opportunities.

Commending rural women, he said that ratio of rural area women in national building capacity was immense as they had been working on fields alongside with men.

He observed that to achieve place among comity of nation, both genders of country had to work together and underlined need for provision of financial and actual opportunities in different fields. About creation of Shuhada fund initiative, he said it was their duty as country’s martyrs had sacrificed their lives for protection of motherland and saved generations. Number of women belonging to all walks of life, besides ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of women organisations and relevant authorities attended event.

Referring to current day challenges, he expressed his gratitude to brotherly country of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for extending financial support in form of $ 2 billion deposit with State Bank of Pakistan.

About International Monetary Fund programme, he hoped that it would proceed accordingly. Terming foreign debts as fetters, he said nation have to rid itself from financial chains. He highlighted that they had to focus on development of agriculture, exports and exploration of precious minerals worth trillion of dollars. He regretted that billions of dollars had been wasted on litigation in past and country did not get single penny profit which made them to suffer collectively.

He without elaboration said that all political leaders and dictators were equally responsible for those woes.  Minister for Human Rights Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that focus on women empowerment was significant part of present government’s policy. He said PM’s initiatives would serve to achieve objectives under sustainable development goals.

PM’s Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that initiative was launched under PM’s vision aimed at women empowerment. Shaza stressed upon provision of opportunities to womenfolk, besides availability of platforms to serve as springboards for aspiring womenfolk to excel in different fields.

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 12 2023

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