LAHORE: Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) Chairperson Fauzia Viqar has said the commission’s helpline service is providing a platform to women for reporting inaction by state institutions and also making them aware of their rights.

She said the Punjab Women’s Helpline established in 2014 under the Punjab Women Empowerment Package 2012 was operating a 24/7 toll-free service.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Fauzia claimed that the helpline had proven successful in empowering women and had the potential to act as a model for other provinces. She said 330,036 awareness calls had been made through the helpline, while 53,212 inquiries received and addressed successfully from Aug 2014 to May 2017.

“Lahore and Faisalabad reported the highest number of inquiries with 12,823 and 1,858, respectively. Similarly, from out of Punjab, 1,740 inquiries were received and entertained properly,” she said, adding that from 841 complaints, 230 related to criminal offences were lodged through the helpline.

About 36 per cent of all complaints were in the process of being resolved, while 58pc were successfully closed. Closed complaints included successful resolution, compromise between disputing parties or withdrawal of the complaint by the complainant. She said various methods of receiving and lodging formal complaints displayed a district-wise analysis from across the Punjab.

Fauzia lauded the efforts of PCSW legal experts, helpline managers and call operators.

TCF: Fatima Group of Companies has signed an agreement with The Citizens Foundation (TCF) for taking up the operational expenses of five TCF schools for the academic year 2017-18.

The schools are located in Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura and Muzaffargarh where 794 students were studying.

Speaking on the occasion, Sadaf Rehman, TCF’s general manager (north), said: “TCF is catering to 204,000 students from impoverished areas through our network of 1,441 schools across Pakistan. It is only through the dedication and support of individuals and organisations like the Fatima Group of Companies that we are able to forge ahead with our mission.”

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017