Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has directed the Ministry of Women Development (MoWD) to play a proactive role in women empowerment, gender equality and protection of women’s rights in all walks of life.  He was chairing a meeting on February 10 in the main secretariat of MoWD. The Prime Minister called for setting up a steering committee of other ministries to facilitate the MoWD for improving coordination to avoid over lapping of women related issues. He also directed to expedite draft bill for legislation on domestic violence against women, children and women’s legal ownership of property assets. He further stated that the Government had lifted the ban on recruitment therefore the vacant slots be filled purely on merit by observing quotas for women and special children.

 Earlier, Prime Minister’s advisor on Social Sector Ms Sahanaz Wazir Ali, briefed the Prime minister on various initiatives for the development of the women including employment opportunities job quotas reserved for them, keeping a check on harassment tat work places and protecting them form domestic violence. The Prime Minister was apprised that 25 Shaheed Benazir Bhuttto Crisis Centers had been working across the country for the redressal of grievances of the affected women. He said the center should provide permanent facilities to the affected women with the public private partnership. He also stressed the need of cooperation of local and provincial governments in this gender sensitive project. 

Secretary Ministry of Women Development, Mr. Raja Raza Arshad delivered a briefing in the committee room and apprised the Prime Minister about the on going project of the ministry. Senior Joint Secretary Abdul Majeed, Director General Development Mr. Javed Iqbal Butt, Director General Gender Equality Mr. Idrees  Baig, Project Director Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP) Ms Rehana Hashmi were also present in the briefing.