LAHORE: President Dr Arif Alvi says the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government is ensuring rights as well as financial empowerment of women and it has launched a soft loans scheme to help them establish their businesses.

He, however, lamented that the ratio of women availing this facility was low. He asked women leaders, including members of parliament, to create awareness among the prospective beneficiaries about the government’s plans for their welfare.

Speaking at a national seminar on ‘Protection of women against harassment’ at a local hotel on Friday, the president lauded the pro-active role being played by the ombudsperson for solving women’s problems, adding that society, too, had started taking responsibility for protecting their rights.

Dr Alvi said strengthening of institutions was crucial to provide equal rights to women and protect them against harassment, adding that Islam also ensured rights to women, particularly heirship. A part of the last sermon by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also mentioned rights of women whereas the Holy Quran talked about their property rights, which were being denied before the advent of Islam.

The president said British laws did not provide for property rights of women until the start of 20th century, as their property was legally considered belonging to their guardian.

TEXTILE PARK: The president also inaugurated the Challenge Textile Park that has been launched by the Chinese with around $150 million.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Alvi said the government was ensuring ‘ease of doing business’ for attracting maximum foreign investment, as revolutionising the industrial sector was vital for the uplift of the country.

He said initiatives such as the textile park would help attract further investment and new ways should be explored to bring in foreign investment.

He said special economic zones were being established, adding that the world was changing and no one could economically isolate a country anymore.

Also on Friday, President Alvi asked the participants of the 114th National Mana­gement Course at the Natio­nal Management College to overcome “egoistic attitu­des” and extend maximum facilitation to the public.

Talking about the traditions of bureaucracy, Dr Alvi said the system had a big role to play in decision-making, stressing that strengthening of institutions was very important to achieve the desired goals.

The president distributed certificates among the participants who had completed their course.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2021