The First Lady of Pakistan Begum Sehba Musharraf has stressed the need of taking concrete measures for the wellbeing of women folk of rural areas and said that the Asia Pacific Committee for Women Development would provide an effective platform in this connection.
Presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Advisory Committee for Women Development and Welfare of the Special Children at Governor's House here on Tuesday, she assured that the avenues made available to women of Pakistan for playing their role in different sectors of life have led to ensure their development.
They are now in a better position to apply their abilities in a better way and significantly contribute in the national development, she added.
The projects to be proposed by the Provincial Advisory Committee in this connection, Begum Musharraf said would be duly supported and advocated for their materialisation.
Begum Shamim Iftikhar who is also the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for NWFP in her welcome address said the NWFP took the lead country-wise to take solid initiatives in materialising the projects for women development and special children.
She in this connection referred to the visit of Begum Neelofar Bakhtiar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Women Development, saying she not only declared Peshawar as the disabled friendly city but also constituted the Advisory Committee at the provincial level to pave the way for launching effective and purposeful projects for women and special children.
Most of the tasks entrusted to the committee have since been completed, the Chairperson added.
She said that due to the concerted and useful initiative of the President Musharraf, the women have been able to have proper representation at every level and field.
Similarly, Begum Shamim added the women of Pakistan have got awareness about their rights and obligations. She welcomed and thanked Begum Sehba Musharraf for visiting Peshawar to attend the Advisory committee meeting and said, her visit has encouraged the women folk which will give an impetus to the efforts being made for the women development in the province.
MPA Begum Nighat Orakzai, General Secretary of the committee, in a detailed presentation highlighted the achievements and projects of the committee.
She said that a separate enclave for women had been created in Sunday Bazaar at Hayatabad, where the interested women had been allotted shops without rent and electricity charges adding that more than hundred shops are being added to the market providing job opportunities to the needy women.
Begum Nighat appreciated the co-operation of District government and respective town administration in materialising the project that was inaugurated by Begum Shamim Iftikhar.
Moreover, she said a public park and library for special children are also being created at Hayatabad for which the district government has made 50-kanal of land available.
She also referred to the women display centre and complaint cells, saying the committee is also considering more such projects for women and special children whereas the parameter of its activities would be extended to the whole province soon.
District Nazim, Azam Afridi and Provincial IGP Riffat Pasha also spoke on the occasion and highlighted various steps being taken for the welfare of women and special children by the district govt and Police respectively.
Later, Begum Sehba Musharraf also gave away certificates to the orphan children of welfare home for successfully completing the computer training, imparted free by the ICMS.
She also distributed wheel chairs and hearing aids amongst the special children.