Country could never achieve development until its women enjoyed their due rights: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (SABAH: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday while calling for women’s active participation and struggle for their rights, said that the country could never achieve development until its women enjoyed their due rights as well as financial and digital empowerment.

President Dr. Arif Alvi, addressing Kamyab Khatoon ceremony held by Kamyab Jawan Program in connection with World Women’s Day, also advised the girls and women to show their leadership skills to claim their rights guaranteed by Islam as well as the constitution.

He said Islam had guaranteed women’s inheritance rights some 1400 years ago, far before the West where women used to be considered men’s property even till 1920. Criticizing the tendency of brothers getting their sisters’ inheritance in name of gift, the president told the gathering that the women could now approach the Ombudsman office or courts as the government had made necessary legislation to protect their inheritance rights.

However, he said through active participation, the women would have to strive to protect their rights. The literate women should also guide the illiterate ones towards the available opportunities and remedies available for their rights’ protection.

President Dr. Arif Alvi urged the women to avail the facility of online bank account opening through mobile application without visiting the bank, as it would empower them financially.

Referring to the “shameful incident” of killing of a week-old daughter in Mianwali by her own father”, the president, advised the women to focus on moral training of their kids to sensitize them towards women rights.

He particularly called for special focus on women’s health as frequent pregnancies and neonatal deaths impacted their health leading to the malnutrition which he said could be addressed if women breastfeed their children at least for six months.

Similarly, he said women’s social protection was also equally essential to give her a sense of protection while moving outside her home.

Referring to the government’s multiple initiatives of skills development for women, the president said taking advantage of the information technology, the women could successfully run their own businesses without leaving their home.

He said Meta (erstwhile Facebook) had been given a target to skill train 100,000 women this year to impart them advertising and other relevant skills required for promotion of the products on e-commerce tools.