Pakistan advocates gender equality
"At this pivotal moment, we must renew our commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl can live with dignity and equality," Pakistani delegate Allah Dino Khowaja told the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Khowaja, the Federal Secretary for Human Rights, was speaking during a general debate on the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which advocates for greater equality and opportunities for women and men, as well as girls and boys.
He described the Beijing Platform for Action as one of the "most comprehensive and transformative" frameworks for promoting women's rights, but acknowledged that its full implementation remains a challenge due to social and structural issues that continue to hinder progress.
Khowaja said Pakistan remains committed to empowering women in all walks of life.
"In our pursuit of gender equality and women empowerment, Pakistan is guided by our constitutional obligation, international commitments and above all the vision of our founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who aptly said, 'No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you'," the Pakistani delegate said.
Pakistan, he said, has enacted progressive laws and policies to ensure safeguard the rights of women, provide equal opportunities, and ensure their full participation in national life.
In this regard, Khowaja said that Pakistan has prioritized political empowerment and participation, with seats reserved for women Parliament, provincial assemblies ensuring their representations at all levels of decision-making.
"(We) proudly share that Pakistan, being Islamic country, had Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto as first democratically elected woman Prime Minister, with the Chief Minister of the largest Province (Punjab), Chief Justice of Punjab High Court, Foreign Secretary, and Judges of Supreme Court."
Khowaja also said that Women continue to occupy leadership positions in civil bureaucracy and large business boards. He also drew attention to the Prime Minister's recently launched women empowerment package ensuring 33% women representation in all administrative and statutory bodies, financial institutions, while ensuring legal framework for ensuring protection of property rights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
10 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘Strong and growing' interest among American firms in Pakistan's energy sector, says US diplomat
US Charge d'Affaires to Pakistan, Natalie A. Baker, highlighted strong American interest in Pakistan's energy sector. The US official gave her remarks during a high-level meeting with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Wednesday. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in the energy sector, with particular emphasis on the oil, gas, and minerals sectors, read a statement. Last month, the US administration imposed a 19% reciprocal tariff on a wide range of Pakistani goods, significantly lower than the initially proposed 29%, under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. Pakistan, US vow to advance new trade agreement, boost trade & investment Pakistan's revised tariff rate of 19% is lower than that of several regional economies, including India (50%), Bangladesh (20%), Vietnam (20%), and Sri Lanka (20%). During Wednesday's meeting, Baker highlighted significant opportunities for American investment in Pakistan's energy landscape. 'There is a strong and growing interest from US companies in Pakistan's oil, gas, and minerals sector, in line with the vision of President Trump,' she said. 'The US is committed to working with Pakistan. The US Embassy will actively facilitate direct linkages between American companies and their Pakistani counterparts in the Exploration & Production (E&P) sector,' she said. Meanwhile, Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik welcomed the keen interest from US investors and detailed the upcoming opportunities. 'The government is undertaking a bidding round for offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration blocks, which presents a tremendous opportunity for international partners,' Malik said. 'Pakistan possesses huge untapped potential, especially shale oil & gas, and converting these indigenous resources into tangible reserves is a target of our government. We are already engaged in a positive information exchange with US companies,' he added. Charge d'Affaires Baker reinforced that the US-Pakistan had the counter terrorism dialogue, 'now we would like to drive this partnership forward in the economic realm'. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen the energy partnership, leveraging US technology and investment to support mutual economic and energy growth.
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan seeks to renegotiate LNG deal with Qatar
Pakistan on Tuesday decided to seek renegotiation of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import deal with Qatar after its industry slowed down and power demand slumped, resulting in over 50 surplus cargoes during the next one-and-half years alone. The deal, which will expire in 2031, has left the policymakers with two options — either keep shut its 400 mmcfd per day cheaper local gas production facilities along with diversion of expensive surplus gas to subsidised residential use or seek renegotiation of the deal. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has allowed the Petroleum Division to engage with Qatar to renegotiate the import volumes to minimise diversion of imported gas to residential consumers and import only what is required, according to the people who attended the closed-door ECC meeting. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik is expected to travel to Qatar, as the Pakistani authorities are not still sure whether Qatar would also be willing to reopen the import volumes, the sources added. Based on the official assessment, there will be at least 51 surplus cargoes worth $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion from July this year to December 2026, according to the sources. After assuming office in March this year, Ali Pervaiz Malik has been advocating that either the Power Division fulfil its responsibilities by lifting the promised 600 mmcfd imported gas quota or there will not be any other option but to seek renegotiation. According to a terse Finance Ministry statement on the matter, "the ECC reviewed the overall gas sector supply situation in the country and directed the Ministry of Petroleum to take effective measures to control losses in the sector and ensure operational efficiency". The sources said that given the surplus imported expensive gas, the government has three options. Pakistan may ask Qatar to reduce the numbers of monthly cargoes to around 6 to 7 from the existing 9. The second option is that the government may seek an extension in the expiry period with the request to postpone the delivery of the surplus cargoes beyond the original expiry period of 2031. The sources said that the third option of Non-Performance Damages (NPD) clause is given in the contract under which Qatar can sell gas to the third party and claim losses from Pakistan, if the price of selling the gas is lower than the contract price. Pakistan is obligated to pay for contracted LNG volumes even if not consumed. The contract allows flexibility to adjust intake by up to three cargoes per year. The Pakistan-Qatar LNG deal consists of two major agreements signed in 2016 and 2021, aimed at addressing Pakistan's energy needs through long-term LNG supply contracts. The sources said that Pakistan will get an opening for terminating the deal in 2026, if both the sides do not agree on a new price of the gas. The 2016 deal allows termination after 11 years, which is the year 2027, if price renegotiation fails in 2026. The 2021 deal has a shorter 4-year review period, also starting in 2026, but a fixed end date of 2031 unless renegotiated or terminated early. The 15-year agreement enables Pakistan to import up to 3.75 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG to address its energy shortfall. The 2016 deal had been signed at 13.37% of the Brent crude oil price. Each cargo corresponds to roughly 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), totaling 500 MMCFD. The 2021's 10-year deal, provides up to 3 MTPA of LNG at a lower rate than the 2016 deal. It was signed to replace expiring, costlier contracts and ensure supply security. The price of the 2021 deal was 10.2% of Brent crude, a 31% reduction compared to the 13.37% rate of the 2016 deal. Pakistan has already deferred five cargoes from the 2016 deal to 2026 without financial penalties. Due to sluggish economic growth causing lower electricity demand from the national grid and the overall low demand and highly unaffordable prices, the government was not fully running-the LNG fired power plants, which was one of the reasons for the import of gas. Due to roughly Rs3,500 per mmbtu imported gas price, the government also cannot divert the gas to households without incurring heavy losses. LNG was primarily imported to meet the demand of power sector while balance was made available to industry. The LNG Sale Purchase Agreements (SPAs) carried 100% take or pay clause for PSO/PLL whereas instead of mirroring the same clauses, the Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs) with power plants were executed initially at 66% of minimum take-or-pay and later revised to 50% with effect from January this year, the sources added. Before the commissioning of these LNG based power plants, it was assumed that these plants being most efficient would be placed higher in Economical Merit Order (EMO) and/or to be declared as must-run plants for peak loads which did not happen, they added. With the passage of time, LNG demand of power sector has reduced substantially due to availability of generation from other sources which has led to issues of surplus LNG in the system. This LNG glut in system has further been exacerbated with drastic decline in LNG consumption by captive power plants owing to imposition of grid transition levy. The sources said that SNGPL has reported that around 11 cargoes are surplus for July to December 2025 period and similarly for calendar year 2026 some 40 LNG cargoes are estimated to be surplus, considering the projected demand of power sector and demand destruction in the CPPs. This translates into $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion unnecessary import bill for a country whose almost 100% foreign exchange reserves are based on foreign loans. The sources said that the SNGPL is constrained to divert expensive RLNG to domestic sector. To deal with issue of surplus LNG, SNGPL resorts to curtailment of gas production form local fields, which ranging between 250 to 400 mmcfd, to maintain the integrity and safety of the system owing to higher line pack pressures. Curtailment of local production in turn is impacting the revenues of exploration and production companies besides impacting the production of condensate, crude oil and LPG from oil and gas fields, they added. As per the Estimated Revenue Requirements (ERR) for CFY as determined by OGRA, the cost of diversion of RLNG to domestic sector on SNGPL network has been estimated at Rs242 billion against 24 cargoes which led to increase in consumer gas prices, the sources said. The only option for Pakistan now remains to request the brotherly country to review the deal in the light of these developments, the sources added.
Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
JCP to finalise criteria for HC judges, CBs
Meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) subcommittees led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail have been scheduled for August 21 to prepare draft rules for the annual judicial performance evaluation of high court judges, as well as criteria for the selection of judges for constitutional benches. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi had earlier formed two committees led by Justice Mandokhail. Other members include Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan, Senator Farooq H Naek (from treasury benches), Senator Ali Zafar (from opposition benches), and Pakistan Bar Council representative Ahsan Bhoon. The first committee was to draft proposed rules to establish effective standards for the annual performance evaluation of high court judges under Article 175A(20) of the Constitution, inserted through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The CJP had constituted this committee during the JCP meeting on June 19. Earlier, CJP Afridi had also formed a committee comprising the same members to draft an objective criterion for selecting judges for constitutional benches. A notification issued in this regard stated that, in light of the chairperson's decisions during three JCP meetings held on February 28, the committee was tasked with drafting objective criteria for the appointment of judges under Clause (4) of Article 175A of the Constitution and for the selection of judges for constitutional benches under Articles 191-A and 202-A. Interestingly, the JCP had decided to form a rules committee in January, and CJP Yahya Afridi issued its notification on March 4. However, the committee has not held any meeting for the last five months. Legal experts have since questioned why the committee was not constituted immediately after the passage of the 26th Amendment. Since its enactment, judges for the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court's constitutional benches have been appointed without a structured selection process. The government, however, has been fully satisfied with the performance of the Supreme Court's constitutional benches, which endorsed the trial of civilians in military courts, approved the transfer of judges from different high courts to the Islamabad High Court, and annulled the reserved seats decision that had declared the PTI entitled to reserved seats after the 2024 general elections. Meanwhile, the constitutional bench has yet to take up petitions challenging its very creation. Lawyers have also raised questions about the wisdom and logic behind the nomination of a particular set of judges for constitutional benches, pointing out that judges perceived as critical of the present regime are often excluded. Advocate Rida Hosain expressed surprise that a judge elevated only a few days ago could be nominated to a constitutional bench, while several senior Supreme Court judges with extensive constitutional expertise were not. In the absence of clear criteria, she noted, such nominations appear arbitrary. Soon after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, SC senior puisne judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had called for establishing clear guidelines for nominating and determining the number of judges on constitutional benches. "The commission has already nominated and determined a number of judges of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court for the CBs in the absence of any mechanism or criteria in place," Justice Shah wrote in a nine-page letter to the JCP secretary in December last year. "Therefore, there has been no logic or reason backing the nomination and determination of the number of judges for the CBs." Justice Shah stressed that nominations under Articles 191A and 202A of the Constitution cannot be made in a vacuum, and that the JCP must first establish objective criteria through the proposed rules. He suggested that such criteria could include the number of reported constitutional judgments authored by a judge, including dissents or additional notes, while serving on larger benches that heard significant constitutional cases.
