ISLAMABAD, March 4: Women need more than five per cent mandatory quota in the public sector organizations to tap their potential for the overall national development, Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro said.
He was speaking as chief guest at the launching of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW)'s inquiry report on the status of women employment in public sector organizations here on Thursday.
"We have not been able to provide them with a conducive environment, otherwise there is no dearth of talent in women and with every passing day they are proving their worth in every field of life," Mr Soomro said.
He was of the view that besides the five per cent mandatory quota for women in the public sector organizations, they should also be provided a level-playing field in every strata of life.
The Senate chairman referred to the significant presence of women councillors, 44,000, in the local governments and women parliamentarian in the provincial and national assemblies, terming it a new era for the womenfolk. He urged the women to go for vocational training instead of regular education, so that they could actively participate in the economic activities.
Earlier the NCSW chairperson, Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi, presented the inquiry report. Talking about key findings of the report, she said, women were few in numbers at senior levels or decision-making positions and the mandatory quota committed in 1989 by the federal government as post-Beijing commitment was not being fully implemented.
The most dismal state of affairs highlighted in the report is the widespread women harassment at the work place in different forms. Similarly, there is lack of basic facilities for women at the work place, including lack of transport, separate washrooms, etc, which discourage women from entering the public sector.
With regard to the views of the stakeholders, there was general consensus that the quota system as a means for an affirmative action was necessary, but it should be an interim measure until a critical mass had been reached.
There was variance in the size of the quota recommended, ranging between 20 to 50 per cent, she said, while the enumerating key findings of the report.
However, across the board quota reservation, as done in the past would be difficult to implement, and should be fixed keeping in mind the service structures of various organizations.
Referring to another recommendation, Ms Rizvi said women development departments both at federal and provincial level needed drastic restructuring with clearly laid-out job descriptions.
She said with the report now published and released, the commission would submit the recommendations to the government for implementation. Highlighting the commission's activities this year, she said the commission, after extensive consultations, had recommended the repeal of Hudood Ordinances.
