Musharraf Urges: Western Banks to Remit Plundered Money      
By MD Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said Pakistan is pursuing far-reaching steps for socio-economic uplift of its people including empowerment of women, but urged the developed world to extend its promised assistance to the developing nations in realizing millennium development goals.

The developed world must contribute its promised assistance - 0.7 per cent of its GDP—to help developing countries realize millennium development goals, otherwise the attainment of that objective will take centuries, he said.

The President, who was addressing an international conference on Gender Mainstreaming and Millennium Development Goals, said that in addition to increasing official development assistance, the industrialized world should ease debt burdens on developing countries.

He also called for return of the looted money of developing nations, which has been stashed in Western banks, stating that their recovery would be greatly helpful in speeding up development of poor countries.

If the much-needed development assistance is not forthcoming, he feared, the islands of prosperity might one day sink in the expanding ocean of poverty. “The world can become a better place to live if the millennium development goals are implemented, “he observed.

The MDGs, as set by the United Nations, emphasize worldwide efforts for reduction of extreme poverty, promotion of universal primary education, better health facilities and empowerment of women by the year 2015. Pakistan is a signatory to the goals.

Holistic Strategy

The President said Pakistan is following a holistic strategy for poverty reduction through attraction of foreign investment and generation of more jobs for people at grass roots level. He informed the participants that this year the country has been successful in reducing poverty as robust agricultural and industrial growth have benefited a large number of people in both rural and urban areas.

Referring to a range of initiatives pursued for women empowerment in the last five years, the President said women in Pakistan have been empowered in the public and private sectors like never before.

More than 40,000 women sit in political authority at various tiers of the government including provincial and national assemblies, he pointed out amid wide applause from the gathering that included foreign participants, diplomats, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The President, however, stressed, real empowerment of women could only be achieved through a societal change, based on enlightenment and widespread education.

“We have changed the mindsets initially through legislations, but legislation alone is not enough, as we to achieve the societal change for effective implementation of these legislations through promotion of enlightenment and education.

Pakistan, he asserted, has a better track record vis a vis gender bias against women than even many developed nations. The President appreciated the excellent work being done by the non-governmental organizations in the social sector but said nobody including the NGOs or media should single out Pakistan for social ills that are common to all developing countries. “Even developed countries are faced with so many social problems, so why should Pakistan be singled out,” he said.

Women Empowerment

Pakistan, he said, is committed to women empowerment and informed the conference that the Parliament has passed a bill, banning honour killing. The President favoured a review of the Hudood Ordinance to ensure that it is in accordance with spirit of Islam.

The Government has introduced a number of educational steps to encourage women education at primary as well as higher levels including award of scholarships and establishment of colleges and universities.

In this respect, he also referred to Education for All (EFA) programme to be completed by 2015, Rs 3.5 billion “Tawana Pakistan” scheme, Rs 100 million President’s fund for development of rural women, disbursement of credit under Khushhali Bank and programmes of National Commission for Human Development and training of over 100,000 lady health workers, national health policy, access to justice programme, creation of economic opportunities in public and private sectors etc and said these would contribute to capacity building and amelioration of women in the country.

“Pakistan is doing a lot, but we are conscious that we have to do more and at faster pace,” he said, assuring his full support for policies aimed at women empowerment.

Nilofar Bakhtiar

In her welcome address, Advisor to Prime Minister, Nilofar Bakhtiar paid tributes to President Musharraf for his commitment to women empowerment. She presented Islamabad Plan of Action, which was adopted by the Conference and also endorsed by the President.

Special Assistant to US President, Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, appreciated recent enactment of a law in the Parliament, banning the practice of honour killing.

President APWA Tazeen Faridi also spoke at the conference, which coincided with the 100th birth anniversary of Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, the founder of APWA and wife of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Khan Liaquat Ali Khan.●