The conference focused on learning from the views and feedback of the participants and the special programmes which are being designed for women empowerment in Pakistan or around the world, which can be replicated here. The conference was attended by the members of parliament, diplomats, representatives of World Bank, DFID, ADB, USAID, WFP, CIDA, TIKA, KOICA, JICA, Mera Chand Welfare Trust, National Commission on Status of Women, PPAF, government organisations, Bedari Organisation, different NGOs, media houses, academia, civil society and a large number of BISP woman beneficiaries.
The Speaker National Assembly said, "Women have equal role in the progress of the country and we must put in all-out efforts to adopt measures for empowering our women." He further said that the platform provided by BISP will assist all the stakeholders to work in unison for this cause. He assured the full support of National Assembly in the legal empowerment of women.
Addressing the participants, Minister of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon said that BISP aims to empower women, giving them dignity and meaning to their lives as envisioned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Chairperson BISP added that the contribution of BISP towards woman beneficiaries is beyond financial assistance, empowering them to exercise their political, social and financial rights.
The interventions of BISP enable them to support their families on equal footings, resulting into better nutrition, less stunting, better IQ levels and improved education and health facilities for their families. She expressed her determination to co-ordinate the efforts of all relevant quarters for the purpose of women empowerment.
During the proceedings of the conference, many important topics relating to women empowerment came under discussion of the participants. Valuable views were given on early childhood education, mother and child care by Mehnaz Aziz, on polio immunisation by Mazhar Nisar, on population and family planning by Dr Zeba A Sathar, on acid violence by Velerie Khan, on malnutrition by Lola Casro, on violence against women by Fozia Waqar, on financial inclusion by Asghar Ali Memon, on adult literacy by Mera Chand Welfare Trust, on status of immunisation by MNHSR&C and on early marriages by Safiullah Khan. Deliberations were also made on adopting those programmes for BISP beneficiaries, which have been designed for women empowerment in Pakistan and around the world.-PR