LAHORE, April 30: The caretaker provincial cabinet on Tuesday approved the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance 2013 aimed at empowerment of women.

The cabinet approved the ordinance at a meeting which was presided over by Caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, adviser on taxation and revenue, the chief secretary, the advocate general and secretaries of the departments concerned.

The ordinance provides for the establishment of Commission on the Status of Women, having at least 50 per cent representation of women and at least one minority woman. Its members include leaders of the house and opposition or their representatives, and two women parliamentarians.

The cabinet meeting also reviewed draft ordinance of Noor International University, and kept a decision on it pending.

Mr Sethi said the establishment of the commission was a laudable step towards empowerment and welfare of women. The commission would help solve problems being faced by women, besides taking immediate action over violence against them.

He said over 50 per cent of the country’s population comprised women. National prosperity could not be achieved without bringing them into the mainstream of progress and prosperity. The Pakistani women were highly capable and were playing an effective role in the progress and prosperity of the nation.

He said women had played a significant role in national development, particularly in the fields of medicine, engineering, information technology, education, administration and other sectors. The society could be put to the road to progress and prosperity by empowering women who would have to play a proactive role in all fields of national development and Punjab government was taking all necessary steps for this purpose.

Mr Sethi constituted a five-member committee under the law minister to review the draft ordinance of Noor International University and submit its recommendations.

The cabinet meeting also reviewed various suggestions for reduction in the entertainment tax while final recommendations to the effect would be submitted to the cabinet in its next meeting.

The higher education secretary gave a detailed briefing on the draft ordinance of the Noor International University while the women development secretary dilated upon the aims and objectives of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance, 2013.