ISLAMABAD, Feb 11:  National Women’s Day is being observed on Sunday, and to mark the occasion, the government has pledged to continue working for women empowerment, stating that the dream of nation-building cannot be realised without the effective participation of women in the process.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in a message said that the Pakistani women were the most resilient among the womenfolk in the world as they have braved the rigors of wars, unprecedented floods and other natural calamities.

The present Parliament has a number of pro-women enactments to its credit such as “Women Protection from Harassment at Workplace Act 2010, Amendment in PPC 509, Acid Crime Prevention Act 2011, the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011 and Fund for Women in Distress and Detention Act 2011”, he said.

Speaker of National Assembly, Dr Fehmida Mirza said establishing of Women Parliamentary Caucus in the National Assembly was a significant achievement which has been formed in line with the objectives of protecting women rights and empowering them politically as well as economically. In a message, Goodwill Ambassador for Women Empowerment, Fiza Batool Gilani said the cause of women has prospered during democratic stints whereas during authoritarian times their march toward equality and progress has been hindered. The path to women empowerment is still strewn with hindrances like 100 per cent girl literacy, technical and vocational training, stereotyping, and lower wages. Laws have been framed but their implementation remains an abidingly daunting challenge. Governmental bodies, civil society organisations and all the societal stake-holders have to work hand in hand for the attainment of this challenging task, Ms Gilani said.