January 28, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The women development ministry is working with various government department to provide more institutional cover with a special focus on providing women equal representation in terms of jobs opportunities in both private and public sector organizations.

This was stated by the ministry secretary, Parveen Qadir Agha, at an information dissemination seminar on “Poverty/Economy, Institutional Mechanism and Media/Advocacy”.

The event was organized by the National Association of Business, Professional and Agricultural Women (NABPAW) at a local hotel.

The government has already constituted a statuary body, called National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW), with the sole task of women empowerment, Ms Agha said.

She said the body had equal representation from four provinces, FATA, federal capital, civil society organizations and religious scholars.

“I accept that the government of Pakistan is facing a lot of financial constraints, however, the women development ministry is exploring all available avenues for betterment of downtrodden women in the country.”

The secretary also mentioned various steps taken by the government in this regards, including Women Health Project, Food Nutrition Programme and National Commission on Status of Women.

She said efforts were being made to eliminate discriminatory laws against women. However, she said: “We have to preserve and maintain our identity as Muslims.”

The ministry, she said, was being renamed as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Women Protection.

In her presentation on portrayal of women on electronic media, PTV Lahore executive producer Moneeza Hashmi said more women should be included in the management of official electronic media to influence the policy decision in favour of gender equality.