LAHORE Shirkat Gah Womens Resource Centre and the ASR Resource, Training and Advocacy Centre organised a two-day national consultation on The Beijing Platform of Action for Equality, Development and Peace here. Around 200 participants attended from urban and rural organisations all over Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK. MNA Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Social Sector, Raheela Durrani, Minister of Law and Public Prosecution, Balochistan, Yasmin Rehman, Advisor to the Ministry of Women Development, former MNA Mehnaz Rafi, Hina Jilani, Khawar Mumtaz, Nighat Khan, Shagufta Alizai and other leading women addressed sessions. This consultation reviewed progress on commitments made in connection with the Beijing Platform of Action 1995, Pakistan National Plan of Action for Womens Development, Millennium Development Goals and CEDAW. Progress made on Pakistans commitments was assessed in view of the new local and global changes such as economic crisis, climate change, conflict and its impact on the lives of women. The forum concluded with specific demands of the government of Pakistan for improvement in the status of women. These included the demand to strengthen Ministry of Womens Development with appointment of a full time minister; making National Commission on Status of Women fully autonomous with provincial and district level offices; developing one consolidated National Plan of Action addressing all womens concerns; giving representation to women peasants and workers in parliamentary bodies and restoring local government system with an early announcement of elections. Importance of the medias role in creating awareness on womens issues was highlighted with a demand for a responsible and responsive media. Reported endorsement of parallel judicial mechanisms (Jirga) by the Chief Justice of Pakistan was universally condemned The group expressed dismay over curtailment of the freedom of expression under current democratic government and rejected the absolutely unjustified ban on Ajoka Theatre performance (Burqvaganza) imposed by PNCA. Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Yasmin Rehman appreciated the civil society organisations role in womens development and assured the current governments and the Prime Ministers confirmed commitment to support such progressive efforts. The meeting resolved to continue its commitment to struggle for womens rights as equal citizens and to strengthen linkages with other social movements and allies for achievements of its objectives.