Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives launched National Gender Policy Framework-2022 on Tuesday to mark International Women’s Day.
The framework aims at enabling an environment for equal participation of women in economic activity that is a linchpin in the three growth strategies and SDGs.
The launching ceremony was held in Islamabad with Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Fehmida Mirza, Lieutenant General Nigar Johar and others in attendance.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government has made landmark legislation for the protection of the rights of women.
He commended the efforts of Ministry of Human Rights in this regard.
The Minister for Planning noted that women are immensely contributing in different walks of life.
“They are playing an important role in the economic activity,” he said emphasizing that their role also needs to be recognized.
Umar said the women health workers also played a pivotal role in the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister said women are 50 per cent of the population and it “is our effort to take steps to bring improvement in their lives”.
The development partner of the ministry which includes UNFPA, UNDP, UNESCO, Country Representative, UN Women, WFP, WHO, UNOPS, UNRCO, UNHCR, UNODC and ILO also participated in the ceremony.
Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari lauded the government for taking various steps to provide a conducive working environment for women and girls.
The minister said that legislation has been enacted for the rights and protection of women and children in the country.
“The government has a responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens,” she said adding that the government has taken steps to address the issues facing women.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar also shed light on the programmes under Ehsaas which are assisting women.
“We are working on merit and disbursing the amounts under Ehsaas to the deserving households,” she said.
Pakistan in recent past has adopted a number of key international commitments to gender equality and women’s human rights – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
