Daily Times

LAHORE: Besides protecting the rights of women and helping them break the shackles of tyranny and oppression, the provincial government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is working efficiently to make women understand their role in society as per the constitution.

Talking exclusively to Daily Times, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Hina Butt says her party is making rigorous efforts to empower women at grassroots level. However, she admits that there is still a lot of work to be done at rural level to educate women. Lauding the government’s seriousness towards facilitation of women, Butt said the Punjab Assembly has 66 seats reserved for women, more than in any other province, which goes to show the government’s intention of empowering women at the provincial level.

The young PML-N leader said one of the major accomplishments of the women parliamentarians is that “we managed to pass a bill last year in, which 66 laws were amended to involve women in the decision-making process”. One the same day, she informed that a resolution of Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of Punjab was also passed after, which, various sub-committees were formed that regularly held discussions with UNDP for future development programmes for the betterment of women.

“The caucus compromises of six subcommittees, addressing issues pertaining to health, education, domestic violence and advocacy for legislation, population welfare, gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and social welfare committee to cater to the marginalised, the poor and the disadvantaged,” she said, adding that WPC cuts across political parties and includes members of the opposition in order to work collectively for the progress of women.

“It is important that all political parties join hands, share ideas and connect to transform the role of women in politics,” Butt said.

Women representatives in the assembly are also in the process of passing the acid-crime bill, which will further protect the rights of women and strengthen democracy. Also under the WPC, the women parliamentarians are working towards establishing rape-crime centres to provide emergency services to the rape victims.

In addition to that, the Prime Minister Youth Loan Scheme also reserves a 50 percent quota for women. “We, on the provincial level, have mentored women to establish their own businesses besides making them aware of their rights as per the constitution.” Male-dominant culture and sham justice system in villages is the root cause of most problems faced by women, she opined, adding that the parliamentarians have resolved to change this system and give women their due rights so they don’t succumb to domestic violence.

The young entrepreneur believes education is perhaps the only long-term solution to all problems in society. Besides making women secure and independent, education will also change the cultural mindset of the country, she said, adding that the chief minister pays special attention to uplift the quality of education in the province. “The CM, under his mission of ‘Education for All’, specially emphasises on providing free education to all the children in the province. The increase in number of laptops this year is a proof that the government not only wants to recognise the efforts of deserving students but also motivate other students to work hard.”

Being a member of parliament, Butt feels it becomes her duty to monitor, identify and address the loopholes within the system and provide justice to the deserving. “As an entrepreneur, I make sure to follow all the rules and regulations and try to inspire as many women as I can. If a woman is financially strong, it automatically raises her confidence and makes her independent,” she added.