National Commission on the Status of Women

Visit to Gilgit-Baltistan

Call on to the Speaker, GB

Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson NCSW along with her team called on the Speaker, Amjad Ali Zaidi on 8th Sep 2021, in GB. The meeting was attended by NCSW Members and Officers. After a formal introduction, the Chairperson gave an overview of NCSW from the time of conception to how it became a financially and administratively autonomous statutory body and how NCSW enhanced its scope through its mandate and status to promote social, economic, political, and legal rights of women. She emphasized that the growing trend of violence against women in our society is troublesome and that measures must be taken at the National and Provincial levels.

The Chairperson also highlighted issues that require the Government of Gilgit Baltistan’s immediate attention:

Need for the establishment of Commission on the Status of Women in GB
Issues of domestic violence and the high rate of suicides
Establishment of Dar ul Amans and Day Care Center
Advocacy for legislation on Women Empowerment Laws, especially the Gilgit Baltistan Domestic Violence against Women (Protection and Prevention, Bill 2020 and Protection against Harassment of women at the Workplace Act No. I of 2013)

Visit to the Women Development Department

The Chairperson visited the Women Development Department on 8th September 2021 and visited the Day Care Center established under Women Development Department GB for working women and interacted with staff and children. She applauded the efforts made by the department for early child development which she said should be included in the National policy on the basis of the law already enacted in this regard.

She also visited the e-Rozgar facility center, where Deputy Director Women Development Department Ms.Salma Aziz briefed the Chairperson that an estimated 100 youngsters in GB have been provided with courses for online and freelance business among them above 70 percent of the participants have been females. The Chair also visited the Female Vocational Center where 70 young female participants have been learning the training in different traits. The chair appreciated the work of the trainees and encouraged them to work and implement the training in their daily life to get economic emancipation.

The Chair was briefed by Deputy Director Women Development Department GB in her office.

Call on to the Chief Minister GB

Chairperson along with her team called on the Chief Minister, Muhammad Khalid Khursheed Khan on 8th Sep 2021, in GB House. The delegation was warmly received at the Chief Minister Office. After a formal introduction, the Chairperson gave an overview of NCSW from the time of conception to how it became a financially and administratively autonomous statutory body and how NCSW enhanced its scope through its mandate and status to promote social, economic, political, and legal rights of women. Further, the Chairperson briefed about the purpose of her visit to the CM and discussed issues pertaining to the Commission for possible support from his office. The Chairperson highlighted the following issues that require the Government of Gilgit Baltistan’s immediate attention:

Need for the establishment of Women Commission at GB
Issues of domestic violence and Forced Labor Advocacy on Legislation for women Empowerment Laws especially the Gilgit Baltistan Domestic
Violence against Women (Protection and Prevention, Bill 2020 and Protection against Harassment of women at the Workplace Act No. I of 2013
Establishment of Women Caucus in GB
Office space for the NCSW member of GB

The Chief Minister, GB appreciated the visit of the Chairperson and agreed to provide full support for the fundamental rights of the women in GB. Furthermore, he also considers the recommendation of the Commission for the empowerment of women. He gives directives to the concerned Secretary of the Women Development Department to share the draft bill of the GB Women Commission with NCSW for review and input. He further assured the issue of the establishment of the Caucus in GB Assembly to be resolved immediately. At the request of the Commission he also, ask the concerned Secretary of the Women Development Department to facilitate GB NCSW members for the provision of office space. Besides this, he also assures full support for the new legislation for women and especially for the implementation of the Women Commission in GB, Domestic Violence Bill.

Call on to the Leader of Opposition

The Chairperson along with her team called on the Leader of Opposition, Amjad Hussain on 9th Sep 2021, in GB. After a formal introduction, Chairperson gave an overview of NCSW and briefed about the purpose of her visit to the GB, and discussed issues pertaining to the Commission for possible support from the leader of the opposition, GB regarding the new legislation for women in GB especially for GB Women Commission Bill, Domestic Violence against Women (Protection and Prevention, Bill 2020).

Mr. Amjad Hussain appreciated the visit of the Chairperson and agreed to provide full support for new legislation for the fundamental rights of the women in GB especially for the GB Commission on the Status of Women Bill, Domestic Violence Bill in GB across the party line.

Visit to Women Jail

The Chairperson visited Women Central Jail, Quetta on 26th August 2021. The Chairperson was accompanied by Members NCSW from Balochistan, representative of UN Women Quetta, and Officer of NCSW. The Senior Superintendent briefed the delegation on the present condition of the premises. He said that there are 736 inmates in the jail out of them only 16 are women (11 under trial and 5 convicted), and the maximum capacity for women prisoners is 45. He further explained that women prisoners are mainly charged on the accounts of being involved in drug smuggling.

During the visit to the jail, the delegation was briefed by Mr. Usman Ghani Saddiqi, IG Prison Quetta. The delegation was taken to the women's barrack to meet the inmates and listen to their issues. They later took a round of various facilities i.e. kitchen, library, computer center and the skill development room for women. The unavailability of trainers for SDC was also conveyed to the delegation, with a request to make provisions through SWD, Balochistan.

The Chairperson took special notice of the nutritional diet of the juvenile prisoners and spoke with CSOs to ensure a suitable diet.

Visit Central Jail, Gilgit

The Chairperson visited Central Jail, Gilgit with her team. Superintendent Jail warmly welcomed the delegation of NCSW at the Central Jail, Gilgit. Superintendent Jail gave a brief on the jail to the delegation. He said that presently, there are 269 inmates in the jail out of them only 3 are women (those are under trial/ investigation). He further added that there were no specific barracks for women, and lack of health. He further informed the delegation that the crime rate among women in GB is very low i.e. 0.5%. Updating on Juvenile, the Jail superintendent updated that there are 11 juveniles in the Jail, however, there are very limited facilities of education and health in the Gilgit jail.

The Chairperson was amazed at the lower crime rate among women in the GB, but she has shown her concern about the lack of basic facilities in the Central Jail, Gilgit. She further assured the Jail authority that these issues will be taken with the concerned authority in GB.

F.J Degree College for Women Gilgit

Chairperson visited F.J Degree College for women in Gigilt on 8th November 2021.

The Chairperson and her team were warmly welcomed by Principal Mrs. Meher Angaze, Vice Principal and other faculty members and Deputy Director of Directorate of Education GB. The Principal briefed the Chairperson that 1700 students are studying at F.J Degree College in BS level program.

The Chairperson thanked the Principal and their staff for the warm welcome and explained the purpose of her visit. She further said that GB is her priority and expressed great affection for GB and wanted to work on the strategic plan of the NCSW. She also expressed to taken one more women member for NCSW from GB after necessary legislation. The Chairperson also held an interactive session with the faculty member of the college during the session the faculty member expressed different issues. While addressing the issue of women working and girls hostels the Chairperson advised the Parliamentary Secretary of the Education and GB Women Development Department to resolve the issue on a priority basis.

The Chairperson also advised the Parliamentary Secretary and Deputy Director and Principal in Chilas Diamer College to expedite the process of appointment of new positions through FPSC for females which has not been appointed since 2014. She also advised the Deputy Director of Education to visit Chilas along with faculty members of the college to resolve the issue of staff for female faculty to resolve the matter and accommodation in Chilas College. The Chairperson also put emphasis on gender studies and suggested to the Principal and education department to start gender studies at the BS level in the college.