KARACHI, Oct 12: The Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has said Islam is the only religion of the world which provides the most rights to women.

"The present government will not only protect the rights of women in the light of Islamic teachings but also solve their problems and give them get their due position in society."

He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the "Gender Reform Action Plan" held under the aegis of the Women Welfare Department on Tuesday at a local hotel.

The chief minister said women in a society, especially in a Muslim one, were looked upon with respect. Dr Arbab said that there was no concept of "Karo-kari" in Islam because Islam had given the right of divorce. "It is out of sheer ignorance that women are murdered in anger."

He said that men and women in our society need to be educated, and should get their problems solved in the light of their responsibilities and rights. Islam, he said, never disallowed women from doing hard work and working women too enjoyed an equal status, however, adding that stress had been laid on women to observe the veil.

He said President Pervez Musharraf had always highlighted the importance of women, and in pursuance of the government's policies, the Sindh government had two women ministers. "Even the deputy speaker of the provincial assembly is a woman," he said, while many important departments were headed by women as well.

Dr Arbab said that Sindh province was ahead of other provinces on women rights. He described it a historic occasion that the Sindh government was implementing a women welfare action plan which would help women to attain their rights and get their problems resolved.

He said the government would highlight the problems of women at both the national and international levels, and for this purpose a coordinated line of action would be chalked out.

Dr Arbab assured the participants of providing them with required funds for implementation of the plan and also allow recruitment in the department as and when required.

He said that the principles set by the Sindh cabinet in connection with the establishment of a department for women welfare would be duly implemented. He thanked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its cooperation in implementation of the plan.

Earlier, the Provincial Minister for Women Welfare, Dr Saeeda Malik, in her welcome address highlighted the problems of women. She said a National Commission had been set up in 2000 with regard to status of women while a policy had been approved for raising the representation of women in the National and provincial assemblies.

Dr Malik said that in December 2003, the Asian Development Bank had granted a loan of $12.3 million so that progress could be achieved towards women welfare. After the approval of the Gender Reform Action Plan, the ADB would release a $7 million technical assistance package for supporting its reform agenda.

She appreciated reforms in the political and administrative matters and observed that these would help in bringing about a social change in the country and provide an opportunity for working together for the cause of women equality.

Earlier, the Provincial Secretary for Women Welfare, Ghulam Ali Pasha, highlighted the department's performance and the plan importance. The function was attended by federal and provincial ministers, secretaries, advisers, local government representatives and women activists. - APP