ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, an educationist from Lahore took over as chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on the new year.

It took the government 10 long months to appoint a new chairperson since the retirement of Justice (retired) Majida Rizvi on March 7, 2005 after completion of her three-year term.

The statutory commission had remained without members also for more than a year. Its news members were nominated by the respective provinces only October last year.

Eversince they had been waiting for the appointment of a new chairperson to hold their meeting.

During Justice Majida’s tenure, the commission remained quite active and besides a number of good initiatives, it completed its study on Hudood ordinances and recommended repealing of the controversial legislation done during Gen Zia’s regime.

However, the government despite its commitment at various national as well international fora, is yet to take the recommendations to the parliament for debate.

The new chairperson will be having a heavy agenda during her three years, to continue from where the former chairperson left, and would make it a functional body to achieve its aims and objectives.

The establishment of the NCSW was regarded as an event of historic significance rightly marked with the jubilation by all strata of society.

The commission was established on July 17, 2000, through an ordinance promulgated by the then President of Pakistan. It was formally inaugurated on September 1, 2000, comprising a chairperson and 20 members, two each from the four provinces, one each from ICT, AJK, Northern Areas and FATA.

Of these 20 members, also included one representative from the minorities, three scholars and three secretaries of the ministries of finance, law and interior as ex-officio members.

The aims and objectives of the commission include emancipation of women, equalization of the opportunities and socio-economic conditions among them and elimination of all forms of discrimination against them.

The commission has also be mandated reviewing of women-related laws, policies and other measures taken by the successive governments, monitoring institutional mechanisms for the implementation of these, undertaking research, and interaction with civil society and the citizens.

Justice Majida had advocated a more powerful and autonomous NCSW, with the powers to enforce its recommendations.

Currently, the ministry of women development provides secretariat support to the commission, which lacks full time professional staff.