This was stated by George Turkington, head of UK Department for International Development (DFID) here on Friday while talking to mediapersons at the office of Bedari, a non-governmental organisation working for women.
“Pakistan has one of the worst gender equality gaps between women and men in the world ranked 133 out of 135 countries by
the World Economic Forum, with millions of women being abused and subjected to violence, often from other family members”, he observed.
He pointed out that millions of women in Pakistan did not have access to basic education, health-care, family planning and finance.
“They are not included in decision making and often don’t have a voice at home or in the community. That’s why they can’t demand their basic rights and call for help when their rights are usurped and they are abused,” he maintained.
He noted that Pakistan was not able to avail the talent and productivity of half of its population, holding back economic growth and opportunity. “After realising the miserable plight of Pakistani women UK has decided to support Pakistan to
empower women and girls at the centre of everything we do,” he pledged.
Sharing the goal of DFID by 2015 Mr George vowed that UK would support legislation to make domestic violence illegal and to launch a drive for the implementation of all legislation to protect the women of Pakistan. “We would do our best for
strengthening the democracy in Pakistan for getting registered two million more people (almost half women) in the voters’ list,” he resolved.
He said that five thousand women living in the remote backward areas of the country would be provided legal aid while the women’s involvement would be increased at all levels so that their voices could be heard and their needs could be addressed.
Under the plan 3,600 maternal deaths would be thwarted by increasing skilled midwives, doctors, nurses and Lady Health Visitors while the life of 110,000 children, including 44,000 newborns would be saved by expanding basic health services at community level with a focus on family planning, nutrition and healthcare for women and children.
