Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Peace, development and prosperity will remain a pipedream and an impossible task without women empowerment and their involvement in decision making process.

It is need of hour to provide education to everyone without any discrimination and especially focus should be on women and children education because women could play a vital role in the development of a society.

These were the unanimous views of civil society actors and representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) during a seminar organized to celebrate the International Peace Day, with title of “The Role of Women Empowerment in Peace Process”.

Shirkat Gah organized the seminar in collaboration with Awwaz and Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) on Wednesday at Peshawar Press Club. Those who shared their thoughts on the occasion were Sana Ijaz of Shirkat Gah, Arshad Haroon, SPO regional head, Shahida Shah of Takkra Qabayili Khuenday, Akbar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture Department, Riaz Davi Advocate, Fida Jan and Raheel Bibi.

Arshad Haroon in his remarks said that it was need of hour to provide proper education to everyone especially the women and children because women could play a vital role in the development of a society.

“If we ignore women and children in provision of education Pakistan cannot rank in developed in countries. Our education system is class based, rich admit their kids in well reputed institutions while the poor children will not get good education” he said. He maintained that number of girls was less as compare to boys in educational institutions.

Similarly, he said that most of the government education institutions were lacking proper clean drinking water, toilets and other facilities which showed the flaws in education system clearly.

He added that it was need of the hour to prioritize the indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically the promotion of peaceful and inclusive society.

Throwing light on women rights, Arshad Haroon further said that women should be made more powerful and encouraged to come out for contesting National Assembly, Provincial Assemblie and local government elections independently. He said that businessmen were not ready to invest in the war affected province while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa people were compelled to go for jobs in Karachi or Dubai.

He also said that the KP was ignored in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and more projects were bestowed on Punjab. He said that Pakhtuns were also considered as terrorists in other part of the country.

He added that such kind of discriminative and unequal attitude moving the society into the quagmire evil.

Shahida Shah said that due to current war against terrorism most of the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) women became victim and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) which created more problems for them.

She maintained that women representing more than 50 per cent of the total population but were totally ignored in the current FATA reforms and a single woman is not taking their decisions.

She suggested that women should made economically strong and provide them business opportunities under their homes aimed to help them earn livelihood with honour.

Fida Jan said without provision of basic rights to women the majority part of the population could not perform their role in peace and development process.

He added that in 2010 a law was passed regarding women harassment in work places but no indication could find in its implementation process.

Riaz Davi said article 25, 25-A and 4 of the constitution support the SDGs and the ratification of treaties indicated that the state had shown its consent and it makes the state bound to work and implement on these treaties and laws.

He said that law making in Pakistan was easy to its implementation was not given a practical shape.

Raheel Bibi said that women should be included in decision making process.

Women education should be prioritized as an educated woman could provide a good environment to her kids and could also care of her children better.