By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : The Ministry of Women Development will launch a five-point programme named after Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
Under the programme the government will move the long overdue Domestic Violence Bill in the parliament and all government land allotment will be done in the name of the women of the house, Minister for Women Development Sherry Rehman said while reviewing the performance of the ministry.
The number of crisis centres for women will be increased from 25 to 55, women’s quota in the public service will be increased to 20 percent. Female prisoners across the country will be housed in separate quarters and looked after by female staff, she said.
The Minister said that the draft bill has already been sent to the Cabinet Division for opinions of the divisions and departments concerned.
All government land allotment (for lease or home sites) will be made in the name of the woman of the house, she said. This will be an important step towards the empowerment of women as a large section of women remain deprived of ownership rights, The Minister said.
There will be a review of the administrative and monitoring mechanism of the crisis centres. The government is committed to setting up a women crisis centre in every district of the country, the Minister added.
Sherry Rehman said that women’s participation in the public bodies will be increased to 20 per cent (from 10 per cent) on merit, as a part of the Affirmative Action Job Quota for Women in public service. It merits a mention here that it was Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s government that initiated a 10 percent Affirmative Action Job Quota for Women in Public services.
The Minister ordered the Ministry of Women Development to immediately hold a stakeholders’ conference to involve civil society organizations, women bodies and other stakeholders in the process of legislation. “Civil Society has done commendable work for the cause of women in Pakistan. The government appreciates the efforts of all those organizations and individuals who have worked for the welfare of women and we will make them our partners in all initiatives for women”, said the Minister.