ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf said that struggle of Pakistani parliamentarians for the cause of strong democracy is unmatchable in the annals of world political history.
The speaker expressed these views, while addressing the opening ceremony of a seminar, entitled “Reclaiming the Space: Reading the Constitution from Women's Perspective” organised by the Women Parliamentary Caucus in Islamabad on Monday.
He said that social progress and development are interlinked with women’s inclusion in every sphere of life.
He said the implementation of laws regarding ensuring gender equality in every sphere of life is the need of the hour.
He demanded the establishment of a Women Federal Ministry for empowering women and also emphasized the need for direct elections of women Parliamentarians.
He said that it is the need of the hour to focus on the implementation of laws regarding ensuring gender equality in every sphere of life.
He said that he had been honoured and proud to learn politics from the unmatchable and astute leadership of Benazir Bhutto.
He appreciated the active participation of women parliamentarians in the parliament of Pakistan. He added, “Ensuring gender parity is pivotal for socio-economic progress”. While demanding for establishment of a Women Federal Ministry for empowering women, he added, “It is time that our men must come forward for empowering their women”.
He also emphasized the need for direct elections of women PARLIAMENTARIANS.
While addressing the seminar, Shahida Rehmani, secretary of the Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) stressed the need for gender parity and gender equality as enshrined in the constitution.
She also expressed gratitude to Speaker Ashraf for supervising with dedication to the whole procedure of Gender Budgeting for this financial year.
MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz convener Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights signified the struggle of women parliamentarians for finding space in the Parliament of Pakistan.
She also emphasized that reading the constitution from a women’s perspective would be the right step on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration of the Constitution.
Furthermore, MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik during his address to participants of the seminar also briefly pointed out the women-friendly legislation initiated from the platform of WPC. She also demanded women parliamentarians must have space in politics for direct election.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023