KARACHI: The Sindh human rights department has announced a plan to launch the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Awards.

These awards will be given each year in December in recognition of contribution and unresolved achievements of rights activists in the area of promotion and protection of human rights of citizens, including marginalised and underprivileged groups and segments in Sindh.

The awards will be given in various categories, including human rights, women’s rights, child rights, minority rights, labour rights, transgender rights,etc. Each winner will be awarded Rs500,000.

A panel will be formed each year to decide on the award winners from among the nominations. The panel will include the chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), a representative from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the president or a representative of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), a representative from the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), the president or a representative of the Karachi Press Club (KPC), and a representative from the Sindh human rights department.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Human Rights Surendar Valasai said that the award had been approved by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2023