UN Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Executive Director Dr. Noeleen Heyzer has met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and discussed matters relating to women's empowerment, according to an official statement. Aziz told her that women empowerment is important as no nation can progress in today's world without the participation of the women. It is the responsibility of the civil society as well as the government to work for empowerment of the women, the prime minister said and added that the best way to empower woman is to provide her with opportunities. He said the government had started micro-finance credit banks and now four such banks are operating in Pakistan with women being major borrowers. The rural women, Aziz said, play a very vital role and contribute significantly towards the rural economy. The prime minister said the role of women in rural areas has been further augmented by the micro-credit schemes started by the government. The women have now earned respect and become an economic partner, he added. Dr. Heyzer briefed the prime minister about the role and functions of UNIFEM and said it had recently worked in Afghanistan for granting equal rights to the Afghan women. She said UNIFEM intervenes strategically for improving the lot of women and assured that it would provide all possible help and assistance for ameliorating the lot of Pakistani women.
