Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has underlined the need to formulate proper legislation aimed at resolving the issues faced by the women folk of the country. She said while addressing female journalists in a meeting held here at US Embassy on Saturday.
Women are facing several issues either it is education sector, health or employment. In different parts of the country including tribal areas and Swat, women are victims of violence, she said. In this regard, she said women parliamentarians must hold caucus to highlight and resolve the women grievances. On policy level, initiatives are needed to make the society free of violence.
Education is the key of economic and social development and there is need to equip the women with education, making them self-reliant and useful member of the society who could contribute towards the development of country, she said. President Asif Ali Zardari under the strong vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed is focussing on the women empowerment. Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), one of the initiatives of the government to provide financial assistance to the marginalised female community in the country is commendable.
For the economic welfare of women, micro credit schemes should be introduced so that the women could be made self-reliant, she suggested. To a question regarding population stabilisation, she said family planning programmes could lead towards sustainable human development.
About terrorism, she said terrorism is epidemic and targeting people everywhere in the world. To tackle the menace of terrorism, international community especially Arab countries must join hands with the Pakistan. Sheila Jackson Lee said US wanted long term relationship with Pakistan and wanted to see it as a prosperous and peaceful democratic country.
"We always consider Pakistan as our close friend as a large number of Pakistani community live in US. We want to work by creating more opportunities for the students who want to study there", she said.
Showing her concern over the worsening situation in Swat and tribal areas, she said dialogue process is a single harmless way to resolve such issues. Any economic development cannot be carried out in these areas unless peaceful conditions are not ensured.
Sheila Jackson Lee assured support of the US Congress for the uplift of tribal areas besides helping in poverty alleviation, social and economic crisis. Congresswoman Sheila is serving her eighth term as a member of the United States House of Representatives. She represents the 18th Congressional District of Texas, centred in Houston, which is the energy capital of the world.
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