ISLAMABAD: Praising their contributions to agriculture and the economy, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khurshid Alam on Tuesday called for empowering rural women to tackle climate change.

She was speaking at the opening of Poda’s 17th annual rural women leadership training conference held at Lok Virsa in collaboration with civil society organisations.

Women from 132 districts in provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir gathered at the three-day event to champion the recognition of rural women as farmers.

A statement issued here said the primary focus of the event was to address the challenges rural women faced and ensure they benefit from government policies and services.

Ms Alam urged provincial governments to focus on improving healthcare and addressing the rights of rural women and girls.

She lauded rural women’s resilience, noting that their empowerment would positively influence decision-making and elevate the overall status of women across the country.

She also highlighted the federal government’s recent ‘She Power’ initiative, launched in collaboration with China in Balochistan, aimed at enhancing health and hygiene for women and girls. She said empowering women would significantly impact Pakistan’s agriculture, economy, and environmental sustainability.

Poda Executive Director Sameena Nazir said women constituted 60 per cent of Pakistan’s agricultural labor force. She cited research showing that equal access to resources could boost farm yields by 20 to 30pc, increasing the country’s agricultural output by up to 4pc. This, she added, would alleviate hunger and poverty while improving the lives of women in agriculture.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a message, commended the participants for highlighting rural women’s development.

He said rural women were essential to food security, agricultural sustainability, environmental protection and contributions to health and education sectors.

The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing quality education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods for rural women.

Director General of Population Welfare Punjab Saman Rai praised Poda’s efforts in creating a platform for women to share experiences and enhance leadership skills. She also acknowledged Poda’s training initiatives in olive production which empower women economically.

The conference also featured cultural performances and discussions on climate change, digital literacy and entrepreneurship, highlighting the key challenges and opportunities for rural women in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2024