KARACHI: Karachi University’s social sciences Dean Professor Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qadri asserted that the role of women in the country’s development cannot be ignored as they are an integral part of our society.
He was addressing at a seminar ‘Home based women workers: A legal perspective’ on the eve of International Women’s Day at the center of excellence for women studies KU organized by center of excellence for women studies KU in collaboration with HEC, Women development department, government of Sindh and AnjumanTaraqqiNaswan.
He informed that a bill on the rights of working women entitled ‘Home Based Women Workers Social Protection Bill’ was proposed in the National Assembly in 2007 and has undergone several revisions since; it has not yet been approved.
“There are about 16 million women workers in Pakistan, who are not recognized as workers under the labor laws, though they are playing an important role in the textile, garments, leather, sports goods and other important industrial sectors”, stated DrQadri.
KU Centre of excellence for women director Professor DrNasreenAslam Shah revealed that 95 per cent women home-based workers did not have any legal protection. Women living in rural areas of the country are the real game-changers. She stressed that women must be provided a safe atmosphere in which they can get an education and also fulfill their duties without any fear.
On the occasion, Sindh Social welfare MinisterShamimMumtaz appreciated the work of the women workers and visited the stalls of the women workers.
A book entitled ‘SoofiKhawateen’, which is the 5th Volume of the Journal of Applied Social Sciences and 14th volume of Pakistan journal of gender studies was also launched during the program.
