“Jamhooriat Aur Ba-Ikhtiar Aurat” ( Democracy and empowered women) said the program is contributed in raising the political awareness among the women ،Shaista Pervaiz Malik

Lahore Pakistan(Correspondent Voice of Germany): Speakers at a convention on “Women Voices of Electoral Reforms, Inclusive Governance and Climate Mitigation” emphasized the need for women’s greater participation in the political process to meet the growing economic, environmental and societal challenges.
The convention- organized by South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP Pakistan) here on Tuesday and participated by delegations from all across Pakistan including the far-flung areas from Gilgit Baltistan to remote areas of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and KP provinces- was addressed among others by Dr Shahida Rehmani, PPP MNA and Secretary Women Caucus in the parliament, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, PML-N MNA, Dr Ammar Jan, Secretary General Haqooq-e-Khalq Party, Aneela Mahud, In charge Political Wing Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, Rubina Jamil, General Secretary All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Khawar Mumtaz, Ex-chairperson NCSW and Mr. Mohammad Tahseen, Director SAP Pakistan.
The speakers were of the opinion that electoral reforms had contributed towards women participation in politics with their greater participation and representation in the parliament, the provincial assemblies and in the local governments. However, they said, a lot more still needed to be done keeping in view the challenges being confronted by the society at large and the women folk in particular.
In her address on the occasion Dr. Shahida Rehmani said that climate changes have impacted the women the most keeping in view their responsibilities towards their families. The growing inflation and squeezing income have multiplied the problems of average and poor families in the country and women being the central figure of a family has been made to suffer the most.
Shaista Pervaiz Malik praised the SAP-Pakistan project “Jamhooriat Aur Ba-Ikhtiar Aurat” ( Democracy and empowered women) said the program is contributed in raising the political awareness among the women all across Pakistan. She said electoral reforms in the past has greatly contributed to increased representation in the elected forums and at grass-root level. She urged the participant to develop greater understanding of the constitution and laws of the land for awareness about their rights.
Former Chairperson National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) Khawar Mumtaz, in her presidential address congratulated the participants for being part of the political process in the country. She was of the opinion that no democratic process can be held complete without the participation of women in it.
Khawar Mumtaz was of the opinion that only an inclusive political process can help realize the dreams of a nation. Pakistan need to do more to include the deprived sections such as transgenders, physically challenged and other weak sections of the society in the process of nation-building, strengthening its diversity and reducing economic disparity among its people.