ISLAMABAD, Nov 26 (NNN-APP) – Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, launched a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, yesterday.
A gender unit has been established in the ministry, amid the socio-economic empowerment of women, the ministry said in a statement, adding that, it is an annual international campaign that began on Nov 25 and runs until Human Rights Day on Dec 10.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Iqbal highlighted the significance of women’s participation in the development of the country, saying that, “the development process of any country remains slow, if the women are not given equal opportunities.”
The minister said that, women’s participation in the development process, unfortunately, is weak in Pakistan, while this campaign and the gender unit would help the country in getting the desired results in this regard.
The campaign would be run in educational institutes of Rawalpindi city, of the country’s eastern Punjab province, and Islamabad, during the 16 days, in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), the statement said.– NNN-APP
