KARACHI, March 5: The Chairman of National Reconstruction Bureau, Lt-Gen (retd) Tanveer Hussain Naqvi, has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure women empowerment in its real sense through their meaningful representation at varied levels of decision-making bodies.
Speaking at a seminar on “Law on Reforms for Women” organised by the Pakistan Women Lawyers Association here on Tuesday, he stressed the need for not only to address the wide range of problems faced by local women but also for adequate provision to redress them.
“Women empowerment is not a subject restricted to solve women problem but actually aims to empower the entire society,” he commented, while referring to the fact women constitute half of the society and empowering the whole society from bottom to top would help create a sense of equality and justice among all segments.
Moreover, he said, rights could not be attained through demands but through proper participation in the affairs and better understanding of relevant issues.
With reference to commitment on the part of present regime towards the cause of women and their due rights, the NRB chief reminded that President Pervez Musharraf was in the front rank to ensure equality of status for Pakistani women apart from ongoing reforms in the larger interest of the nation as a whole.
With reference to 17 per cent reserved seats in the National and provincial assemblies against 33 per cent in lower tiers, he clarified this was made in view of the fact that local women in general were not keen to be away from their homes for long duration and at regular intervals.
Women considering themselves competent enough to represent their constituencies at the highest level of decision-making bodies can contest on open seats, he said, adding that he strongly believed educated and enlightened women were in a position to change the attitudes of political parties.
Attributing the menace of public deprivation at all counts to gradual decay and decomposition of state institutions since independence, Gen Naqvi referred to the seven-point agenda of President Pervez Musharraf to pull the nation out of the same.
The agenda is meant to help people attain the power through rebuilding national confidence and morale besides strengthening the federation, removing inter-provincial disharmony and restoring national cohesion.
Elaborating the plan, he referred to conception, development and establishment of a new local government system, aimed at creating an empowered government capable and strong enough to resolve grass-root level problems of masses, ranging right from their health needs to socio-economic requirements.
He also referred to the second phase of refinement and consolidation of the new local government system.
“Idea is to ensure direct governance going down right from provinces to local bodies,” he said.
He said the NRB was presently engaged in making minimum changes in the Constitution to enhance federalism by devolving more political, administrative and financial powers from federal and civil services. In addition, there is a need to achieve balance of power among different institutions of the state - the President, Prime Minister, Senate and National Assembly.
The NRB chief said concrete measures had been adopted regarding polls in Oct 2002, through series of electoral reforms and for granting autonomy to the Election Commission.
He also mentioned provision for national security council to be created as a deliberative forum to prevent political impasse that have in the past caused military intervention.
The NRB chairman expressed great confidence in the ability of local women to play their due role in the improvement of the conditions of not only women of Pakistan but also make their contribution in the progress and prosperity of the nation. — APP