ISLAMABAD, April 8: Cherie Booth Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on Saturday said that the situation about women education in Pakistan was critical as the country ranked 58th in women education in the world. Addressing a seminar on women development here Ms Blair emphasized the need for providing equal opportunities to women for getting education.

Ms Blair, who arrived here on Friday, said that discriminatory attitude with women, specially in politics and economics, must be stopped for their progress.

Pakistani women should be provided great opportunities for their participation in industrial and business activities, she added.

“There is a need of creating job opportunities for women, as it will improve their situation and eradicate poverty from the country”, she said, asking Pakistani women to jointly work for their development.

“As far as health sector is concerned, Pakistan stands 37th and women situation is better regarding health here”, she said.

She observed that thousands of women die in delivery cases every year due to lack of health facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Rukhsana Aziz, wife of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said the government was taking special steps for resolving women problems, citing the launching of ‘Gender Action Programme’ for women development.

Ms Aziz observed that steps were also being taken for providing more opportunities to women in industrial sector.

Prime Minister’s Adviser for women development Nilofer Bakhtiar said different programmes were being started for women development.—Online