LAHORE -
The Punjab caretaker cabinet on Tuesday approved the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance 2013, after a few amendments, under which a Punjab Commission, having at least 50 percent women representation, would be formulated, and at least one women member would be taken from minorities.
As per the ordinance, leader of the house or his representative and leader of the opposition or his representative would also be the members of the representative commission, in addition to two women parliamentarians as its members. The cabinet meeting, Chaired by Chief Minister Najam Sethi, also reviewed draft ordinance of Noor International University.
The meeting was also attended by Provincial Ministers, Advisor for Taxation & Revenue, Chief Secretary Punjab, Advocate General Punjab, Secretaries of Law, Finance, Higher Education, Women Development, Information and officers of concerned departments.
Addressing the meeting, Najam Sethi said that establishment of Punjab Commission is a laudable step towards empowerment and welfare of women. He said commission would help solve problems being faced by women, besides taking immediate action over violence against women, and inhuman treatment meted out to them. The Chief Minister said more than 50 percent of the country’s population consists of women, and national prosperity cannot be achieved, without bringing women into the mainstream of progress and prosperity. He said Pakistani women have huge potential to play an effective role in the progress and prosperity of the nation as it is evident from their contribution to the field of medicine, engineering, information technology, education, administration and others. He said that society can be put on the road towards progress and prosperity by empowering women, who have to play a proactive and vigorous role in all fields of national development, and Punjab government is taking all necessary steps for this purpose. The Chief Minister formulated a 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Provincial Law Minister, which would review draft ordinance of Noor International University and submit its recommendations. Najam Sethi said that nation can only achieve progress through education, as development is not possible without imparting modern knowledge to the youth. He said Punjab government is providing all possible resources for the promotion of education, so that the country can achieve progress and prosperity.
The cabinet meeting also reviewed various suggestions regarding reduction in entertainment tax while final recommendations in this regard would be submitted to the cabinet in its next meeting. Secretary Higher Education gave a detailed briefing on draft ordinance of Noor International University, while Secretary Women Development briefed the cabinet about Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance, 2013.