KARACHI: Crisis centres for women planned, says Saeeda
KARACHI, Feb 14: Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik has said that the provincial government has planned to establish women crisis centres in various districts of the province.
Chairing the first meeting of NGO Management Committee for Women Crisis Centre Karachi on Monday, Dr Saeeda Malik apprised the participants that though it was a federal government project but the provincial government would extend all its help and cooperation in making this successful.
She said that the only Crisis Centre for Women, inaugurated in August 2004 at the Directorate of Women Development, could not be made functional due to non-availability of funds. However, she said that a joint account in the name of "Chairpersons, Crisis Centre for Women, Karachi" had been opened in the National Bank of Pakistan and the funds had also been received now from the federal ministry for women development.
The meeting was further informed that vacancies in the crisis centre had been advertised in the leading newspapers and the interviews would be conducted very soon. It was disclosed that the women development department would provide the accommodation for the centre in Barrack No 79, Sindh Secretariat No 4-B. The meeting approved the location of the centre.
The minister explained the aims and objectives of crisis centre and highlighted its importance for the women in distress. She hailed the services of Mst Zaib, advocate, as the first chairperson and legal adviser of the centre. She reiterated that the provincial government had also planned to start the projects of similar nature in different towns of Karachi and other districts of province.
Secretary Women Development Yahya Waliullah asked the participants to elect the new chairperson among themselves, the slot lying vacant due to the resignation of Mst Zaib, advocate. Farazana Rehman proposed the name of Zia Ahmed Awan as the new chairperson which was accepted unanimously by all the participants.
The meeting was suggested that a purchase committee should be constituted to make the purchase of capital goods. Zia Awan recommended that the tenure of the chairperson should be at least one year instead of six months for smooth functioning of the office.
He also suggested that there should be three digits helpline for the crisis centre. Besides, a monthly meeting of the NGO Management Committee should be convened, he added.
Also present in the meeting, acting DIG Administration Zakir Hussain assured that the police department would provide a lady ASI for better coordination between different departments of police. -PPI
