ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, on Tuesday launched the National Gender Policy Framework.

 

The National Gender Policy Framework is aimed at providing a structured mechanism with defined objectives for improving the lives of women and providing them with equal opportunities to excel in a professional sphere.

 

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the new policy provides a structured framework with clear-cut objectives and responsibilities assigned for improving the lives of the women of Pakistan.

 

He underlined the achievements of women noting that the gender is vital for the development of any society. About challenges encountered by women in the country, he said they cannot be compared to that of men as women suffer more problems than male members of the society, hence it is unreasonable to equalize the problems of both genders.

 

Asad Umar said women’s education is still a huge concern in our country as previous governments have not been able to overcome. He said there is still a large gender disparity. He said there is still a very low enrollment of girls in schools compared to boys. He said this gap expands when children are promoted from primary to secondary grades as the dropout rate increases due to various issues.

 

Asad Umar said that PTI will include this particular problem in the education policy as well. Asad Umar stressed the need for the implementation of legislation that had been enacted to ensure gender equality. He said a strong local government system was a prerequisite to allowing more women from the lower middle class and middle class to enter the political system.