MULTAN-BritishHigh Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew visited Multan alongwith his wife to see first-hand how the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) is helping women and girls. Mr Drew visited DfID-supported initiatives, including a Government Girls School, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a DAFPAK family planning centre, and the Violence Against Women Centre.
The UK is a strong supporter of women and girls rights in Pakistan. The UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) is working to ensure that girls stay in school longer and learn more. Since 2011, DfID’s work has helped 2.4 million girls complete their primary school education. While addressing the beneficiaries at the BISP centre, the High Commissioner expressed his pride for the UK’s support to BISP, which empowers the very poorest women to feed their families and access basic services like health and education. He was also pleased to see the services being provided at the DAFPAK family planning centre, and committed to continuing UK support for safer childbirth, women’s nutrition and family planning.British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew visited the Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) at Matti Tal Road.
Director General Strategic Reforms Unit (SRU) Salman Sufi was accompanying the British HC and Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chatha received them.The visiting dignitary took round of different sections and met with women staying at the centre for various reasons.DG SRU Salman Sufi gave a detailed briefing about VAWC and said that the initiative has enabled women avail protection and seek justice under one roof.Thomas Drew acknowledged the importance of VAWC and lauded Punjab government for taking the initiative.He said that their government would extend full technical assistance to the VAWC for its success.Deputy commissioner Nadir Chatha said that marked reduction in incidents of violence against women has been witnessed by virtue of establishment and operations of VAWC.He said that officials from all the departments concerned investigate the case and medically examine the affected woman and analyze the motives behind the violence under one roof.He said that the district administration was also playing role to upgrade the centre.He also visited the Violence Against Women Centre which is part of the UK’s effort to empower women and minority groups by strengthening their political voice. Through this programme, since 2011, more than 3300 female youth leaders have been empowered to challenge discriminatory norms in their communities across 4500 villages in 45 districts of KP and Punjab.In addition, Mr Thomas Drew called on Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yusuf Raza Gillani and Hina Rabbani Khar and the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
