LAHORE: Gender issues, especially reproductive health, the Covid-19, were discussed in a meeting of the lawmakers, healthcare professionals and civil society activists organised by Shirkat Gah on Tuesday.

It urged the Punjab government to take notice of the pandemic on women and asked it to reform the Punjab Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in order to continue providing a forum to the women parliamentarians to freely raise, discuss, and address the issues affecting women. They demanded passage of the reproductive health bill in Punjab.

Among the participants were Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Yasmin Rashid, MPA Uzma Kardar and MPA Bushra Anjum Butt, Punjab Women’s Protection Authority chairperson Kaneez Fatima Chadhar and Farida Shaheed, Humaira Sheikh and Gulnar Tabassum of Shirkat Gah. Bushra Butt said that during the Covid-19 women were particularly facing many challenges and issues.

“We are trying our level best to push the government to formalise the women’s caucus. We know reproductive health issues and cases of domestic violence have increased and we need to come up with solutions,” she said. Kaneez Fatima Chadhar shared that two new Violence against Women Centres would be opened in Lahore and Rawalpindi soon.

Uzma Kardar stressed ensuring gender equality at all levels, especially reproductive health and education, through collaboration among various departments, organisations and stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2020