ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday terming economic empowerment a major contributory factor in women’s emancipation said huge responsibility lay on the society to help women thrive in their fields by ensuring them a safe environment.
Addressing at an event in connection with International Women’s Day, the president said both Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan provided equal rights to women and allowed their participation in professional and social domains.
Begum Samina Alvi also attended the event themed ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’, which was jointly organized by United Nations Women, UN Population Fund, European Union, UKAid and the government of Canada.
President Alvi said with the example of Hazrat Khadija, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) as a businesswoman, there was no bar on the women including in Pakistan to indulge in entrepreneurship.
He called upon women entrepreneurs in the country to benefit from modern information technology and explore the global markets.
He, however, stressed the need for ensuring freedom to women in public spaces so as to help them perform their duties comfortably and without any stress of social pressures.
The president expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the government for the emancipation of women including programmes for financial and digital empowerment, amendments in property rights law and a strong legislative framework regarding the incidents of rape and acid crimes.
He mentioned that banks at present were offering loans, especially to women to help them become financially self-reliant.
To control the cases of harassment and exploitation, he said instant verdict by the courts was crucial to averting nonappearance and reluctance of witnesses, which ultimately benefited the culprit.
President Alvi said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great supporter of women’s rights and always favoured their inclusion in the national mainstream being the representative of half of the population.
Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said Women’s Day was the time to celebrate womanhood, mark their progress and realize their challenges.
She said the women in Pakistan were progressing, may it fighter pilots or musicians, who made marks in their respective fields.
Dr Mazari stressed that society needed to give breathing space to women and also allow them to raise voices for themselves, whether through the platforms of Aurat March or Hijab March.
She mentioned that her ministry had broadened the scope of harassment law especially by defining the definition of workplace.
European Union Ambassador Androulla Kaminara said it was significant for Pakistan to ensure equality of women in the society and stressed joint efforts of all stakeholders towards achieving the goal.
She emphasized the importance of women’s representation in parliament and their inclusion in climate-related initiatives.
She said 85 percent of EU programmes were focusing on gender equality, particularly relating to economic empowerment and skill development of women.
President Alvi and Begum Samina also visited the stalls of handicrafts set up on the occasion showcasing the craft of women entrepreneurs.