KARACHI, April 21: The provincial Minister for Population Welfare and Women Development, Dr Saeeda Malik, has said that under a phased programme, some 40,000 women councillors would be imparted training in order to create awareness about women’s rights, responsibilities and their role in politics.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Development Agency of Norway (NORAD) would provide assistance and extend cooperation in achieving the cherished goal, she said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day training programme, organized jointly by the Ministry of Women Development, UNDP and NORAD, here on Monday, the minister hoped that women councillors would play their role effectively in the political scenario of their respective province after the training.

“Dispensation of training to some 2,400 women councillors of Sindh amounts to imparting the same to a similar number of families which would pave the way for creating a conducive environment for the purpose the event has been held,” she said.

Referring to the women education in the society, she opined that a an educated woman with better perception of the realities of life was a big asset for the society and the family.

Earlier, Manager of the ‘W3P project’, Brig Shafqat Mahmood said that out of an overwhelming number of women, elected as councillors, 79 per cent had stepped in the political arena for the first time. Keeping in mind this fact, he added, the Ministry of Women Development had initiated this training programme under the title of ‘W3P’ (Women’s political participation) project which, in future, would largely help make their participation in the country’s politics effective and meaningful.

With the financial assistance, extended by the UNDP and NORAD, the project would be completed in two years while a group of researchers would work as a ‘monitoring team’ to regulate its pace and progress, he said.

The provincial coordinator of the project, Ashfaq Qadri, said that under the project, 81 training sessions at union and town level were held in Sindh and a total of 2,248 women councillors accrued benefit from the programme.

He said that training sessions were also held in Hyderabad, Sanghar, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Thatta and Sujawal besides those in Karachi.—PPI