ISLAMABAD, July 27: Women mayors and councillors have called for a multi-dimensional national plan of action to solve the problems being faced by women in the local governments through awareness raising, capacity development, networking, advocacy, resource and documentation.

This was stated in “Rawalpindi Declaration” adopted at the end of the two-day National Summit of Women Councillors and Mayors on Sunday.

The summit was organized by the ministry of women development, social welfare and special education in collaboration with the UNESCAP.

The declaration also proposed setting up of district resource centres as well as national resource facility for women councillors with such functions as coordination, facilitation, monitoring of the national plan of action for women in local government, collection and dissemination of information, advocating role of women and promoting networking among women in the local government.

Advisor to the prime minister on women development, social welfare and special education Ms Nilofar Bakhtiar said in future such conferences would be a regular feature and women councillors would be invited in large numbers to benefit from such events. She urged upon the councillors to groom their leadership qualities to acquire higher positions in future.

“It is true that women have to face struggle due to socio- cultural obligations but at least they have now reached a stage where they are being accepted with their roles and responsibilities in the leadership at the grass-roots level. It is through the persistence and commitment that many great leaders of the world rose to higher levels of leadership.”

Ms ThemiaHay, UNESCAP director, who specially came from Bangkok to attend the summit, appreciated the features encompassed by the declaration. She said the declaration would be shared with other countries of the world particularly those of Asia-Pacific Region.

Additional secretary of ministry of women development, social welfare and special education Tariq Ali Bukhari appreciated the councillors for making the summit a success. He praised the commitment and enthusiasm of women councillors, as many of them had come from far-flung areas to attend the conference. He said the councillors were able to make a positive contribution towards finalising the National Plan of Action and Rawalpindi Declaration in a participatory manner. In the end, certificates were distributed among the councillors in recognition of their participation in the event.