GWADAR: Political leaders and members of civil society have urged the state institutions to play an effective role in empowering women and protecting the rights of disabled and transgender people by utilising their abilities for betterment of the country.

Speaking at a seminar at the Gwadar Press Club here on Tuesday, they said the country could not be developed without involving women and it was the responsibility of elected representatives to come forward and play their role in this regard.

The South Asia Partnership Pakistan, Aurat Foundation and Jazba jointly organised the seminar.

Among others, district general secretary of the Balochistan National Party Majid Sohrabi, Jamaat-i-Islami’s district naib emir Saeed Ahmed Baloch, district officer of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan Usman Kalmati, district president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ghulam Mustafa Ramzan and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s provincial leader Wahab Majeed spoke at the seminar.

They said the representation of women in national institutions and even in local bodies was negligible.

“Women are in a minority in parliament,” they observed and added that the government and state institutions were not even implementing the job quota of the disabled and special persons in government departments and autonomous bodies.

“In order to empower persons with disabilities, especially women, their quotas must be increased in local bodies and parliament.”

The representatives of minorities and transgender persons said: “We have no complaints against the common people, but the rulers must implement plans to make us honourable and dignified citizens of the country.”

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2021