With a view to expediting the process of providing complete protection and security to the womenfolk working in different departments, 'National Day for the Rights of Working Women' is being marked on Friday (today). To mark the day, different women rights organisations would hold functions to raise awareness among people about rights of working women. Speakers in these functions would highlight the role of women in the process of national development.
In his message, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the role of womenfolk in overall socioeconomic development of the country cannot be ignored because no society can progress without giving equal rights to its women. He said Pakistani women are talented and hardworking and they have proved their mettle in different fields.
Women's proactive role in different administrative and defence organizations are praiseworthy, he said, adding: "It is sanguine that Pakistani women have also shown their talent in education, health and sports fields. In fact, they have earned a niche with their talents and hard work and the Punjab government has also adopted an effective strategy to include the womenfolk in the process of national development."
Shehbaz said that revolutionary steps have been adopted to empower the women as well as to protect their rights. The women's quota has been enhanced from five percent to 15 percent in government employments and the women have also been granted a three years age-relaxation for the government jobs.
Centres have been established throughout the province to protect women rights and to eradicate violence against them. Similarly, women have been given 33 percent representation in committees and decision making boards working under the government, he said.