PM Shehbaz says women’s empowerment remains government’s top priority

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, saying that measures aimed at improving opportunities for women in education and economic development had been incorporated into the federal budget.

The remarks came during a meeting with women parliamentarians of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who discussed budget proposals and highlighted issues facing their constituencies.

The prime minister thanked the lawmakers for their active participation in the ongoing budget session and praised the government’s economic team for including initiatives designed to promote equal opportunities for women.

Women’s role in national development

Addressing the gathering, Sharif said that integrating women into the country’s development process and ensuring their empowerment remained among the government’s foremost priorities.

He noted that the budget contained measures intended to enhance women’s economic participation and improve access to education, adding that sustainable national progress could not be achieved without the inclusion of women in all sectors of society.

The women parliamentarians also presented recommendations regarding development projects and public welfare initiatives in their respective constituencies.

Peace essential for economic growth

During the meeting, the prime minister also spoke about regional developments, saying that tensions in the region had eased and that efforts aimed at promoting peace had yielded positive results.

He expressed gratitude to friendly countries that had supported initiatives for peace and stability, and acknowledged the role played by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in pursuing diplomatic efforts.

Sharif said lasting peace in the region and beyond was essential for Pakistan’s economic aspirations, adding that the benefits of stability would eventually translate into positive economic outcomes for the public.

The prime minister maintained that the government had sought to provide maximum possible relief to citizens through the budget and had worked to shield the public from the effects of global inflation.

He added that sacrifices made by the people must be matched by those in positions of authority, noting that the federal cabinet and government institutions had taken the lead in implementing austerity measures during recent challenges.