Pak govt. determined to fulfil Benazir Bhutto’s dream of empowering women: Gilani

March 9th, 2011 - 5:39 pm ICT by ANI  

Benazir Bhutto Islamabad, Mar 9 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that his government is determined to fulfil Benazir Bhutto’s dream of empowering women in the country.

Speaking on the occasion of the100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, Gilani said that the government is fully aware of the wide range of problems being faced by women in Pakistan, and vowed to ‘change their plight’ and cater to their needs, the Daily Times reports.

He further said that the government is determined to highlight women’s issues through policies of the government, and that the National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women, 2002, and the National Plan of Action are being reviewed in the light of the current requirements and the vision of Bhutto.

Gilani also said that the government is taking various initiatives to address the subject of economic empowerment of women.

“Gender inequality remains a big challenge to socio-economic development in Pakistan. Female participation rate in labour is only 21 percent compared to males, which is at 69 percent,” he said.

“Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the largest ever programme to provide financial support directly to the women belonging to poor households is the bedrock of these initiatives,” Gilani added.

The Prime Minister insisted the establishment of working women hostels, provision of transport facilities to female employees and establishment of day care centres were part of the government’s initiative to resolve the problems of working women. (ANI)

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