KARACHI: Rana Hussain, Minister for School Education, College Education, and Women Empowerment on Tuesday announced plan to include a lesson on Disaster Risk Reduction in the curriculum, a suggestion put up by the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Addressing a “Women Assembly”, organised here by the Indus Consortium in collaboration with Oxfam in Pakistan, she highlighted Sindh’s progress in policymaking, emphasizing the empowerment of women in the province.

Participants of the assembly highlighted the humanitarian issues faced by the flood-affected people of the 2022 flood, emphasising the need for an early warning system and safeguarding vulnerable communities, especially women, during disasters.

The minister stressed the importance of creating space for development, even among women who may not have received formal education. She advocated for the increased use of technology and the inclusion of AI to help people better understand relevant issues.

Senator Dr Khalida Sikandar Mandhro, in her speech stressed the need to look forward and unite efforts for disaster relief. She called for collaboration between the government and civil society ahead of disasters.

Nuzhat Sheerin, Chairman of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, requested the PDMA for the involvement of women in policymaking and stressed the importance of collaboration between civil society and government departments, particularly the PDMA.

Hussain Jarwar, CEO of Indus Consortium, welcomed the attendees and provided an overview of the program’s initiatives, including livelihood restoration and district-level assemblies.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023