No society can progress unless equal opportunities are given to women: Shazia Marri

Shazia Marri, the Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, called on Tuesday for creating conditions that allow women to move freely and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the nation on an equal footing with men.

The federal minister stated that domestic violence is a problem that affects society as a whole while speaking at the “Domestic Violence” event organized by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). If a society doesn’t give its women equal opportunities for success, it will never make social or economic progress, she said. She asserted that our religion and constitution guarantee women’s protection and freedom to participate in all aspects of life.

Domestic violence, according to her, is a problem that affects women all over the world. She continued, “If women were granted their proper rights, there would be no women’s marches or protests in the nation. The federal minister said that while she is pleased to see pink buses designated only for women in order to give them a safe traveling environment, she would be even happier if women felt comfortable sitting next to men. Let’s promise to create a society where women are treated with more respect, she said. Let’s build a society that values women and recognizes their accomplishments, she continued, so that they can advance the nation.

Shazia Marri stated that the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has grown to be the largest .

Around nine million women beneficiaries are being provided quarterly financial assistance under the Benazir Kafalat initiative, empowering them.

She said that transgender persons were also included in the program without the condition of PMT score considering their vulnerability which was a historic step in the history of the country.