Member of the National Assembly, Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture, and President of the PML-N Women Wing Islamabad, Farah Naz Akbar, has said that women’s development, empowerment and effective participation in society are not merely women’s issues but fundamental requirements for Pakistan’s progress.
Addressing a seminar organized by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal on women’s development and empowerment hereon Sunday, she said a society could achieve genuine progress only when half of its population was provided equal opportunities to move forward.
She emphasized the need to provide women with opportunities in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, technology, the digital economy, politics, leadership and decision-making.
Farah Naz Akbar said Pakistan’s young women possessed tremendous potential, particularly in education and modern technology. With appropriate training, financial support, business opportunities and access to markets, women could not only strengthen their families economically but also make a significant contribution to the national economy.
She stressed the importance of integrating women from rural and disadvantaged areas into the development process. Opportunities for dignified employment and economic independence could be created through handicrafts, cultural arts, home-based industries, e-commerce and other skills.
The Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture said Pakistani women were the true custodians of the country’s culture, traditions and national heritage. Linking traditional skills and cultural arts with modern markets could help preserve Pakistan’s cultural heritage while creating new sources of employment and income for women.
She further said women’s political participation strengthened democracy. Providing women with an effective role in the political process, legislation and decision-making was essential. She said the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-N had always attached importance to women’s education, economic empowerment and political participation, and it was the collective responsibility to translate this vision into practical measures.
Farah Naz Akbar urged women to believe in their abilities, raise their voices effectively and move forward with determination to turn their dreams into reality.
She said Pakistan must be transformed into a country where every daughter had access to education, every woman received dignity and respect, every skilled woman had employment opportunities, and every talented woman had the opportunity to lead.
“Empowered women will build stronger families; stronger families will build a stronger society, and a strong society is the foundation of a strong Pakistan,” she said.
Farah Naz Akbar appreciated the organizers for providing an effective platform to discuss the important issues of women’s development and empowerment.
She concluded by emphasizing that Pakistan’s progress was intrinsically linked to the progress of its women.
