Women Roundtable Meeting in Presidency

Islamabad,
29 September 2010: President Asif Ali Zardari has said
that a one time flood tax will have to be imposed on
the well to do and people of means to help shore up
the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Addressing a women
roundtable meeting of federal ministers, women
parliamentarians and representatives of
non-governmental organizations for the flood affectees
at Aiwan-e-Sadr Wednesday afternoon, the President
said that “unless we are prepared to share bread with
our grief and disaster stricken brethren, we should
not expect others to help us”.

He said that he has
already advised the Government to tap indigenous
resources wherever there is room for taping such
resources, adding also that it should be done in a
transparent and above board manner.

The President also said
that the entire aid received and disbursed will be
done in a very transparent manner and every citizen
will have access to information relating to the aid
received and distributed.

Those who were present
during the meeting included among others Speaker
National Assembly Ms. Fehmida Mirza, Ms. Hina Rabbani
Khar, Madam Faryal Talpur, Ms. Mehreen Anwar Raja,
Senator Sughra Imam, Senator Nilofer Bakhtiar, Ms.
Asma Arbab Alamgir, Ms. Nafeesa Shah, Ms. Fouzia Wahab,
Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, representatives of NGOs,
Chairman NDMA, Lt Gen(R) Nadeem Ahmad and Spokesperson
to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar.

Addressing the meeting,
the President said that women’s voices must be heard
and their concerns must be taken into account in
shaping any disaster response strategy. He said that
giving adequate representation to the women in all
forums would help in understanding women and girls’
specific needs and actions to be taken in this regard.

He said that besides
giving representation to the women in all forums, a
system needs to be evolved to inform and warn, in
advance, the women and the children about the risks
involved in case of non-evacuation of their areas
during any natural disasters, on one hand, and to take
care of their special needs during any such situation.

The President said that
the experience of earthquake 2005 indicates that the
women and the children are the worst sufferers during
natural calamities and in many cases the grave impact
of natural disasters on women and children is not
fully recognized. He said that we all need to address
the special nature of the issues of women victims of
natural disasters. While focussing on provision of
food, shelter, health, clean drinking water and
sanitation facilities to the flood victims, we should
also remember that the impact of disaster is much
bigger for women and girls, the President said.

 

The President asserting
that the women are most vulnerable in losing economic
self-reliance due to natural calamities said that
Benazir Income Support Programme should be used to
address the women economic needs in the crisis
situation.

The President also urged
all the stakeholders to ensure women’s security in the
relief camps besides ensuring safe transportation and
privacy of spaces and the shelter for the women.

 

Stressing the need for
adequate arrangement and urgent medical attention to
women, the President observed that many Lady Health
Workers were unable to perform their duties as they
too were victims of flood disaster. He called upon all
relevant departments to ensure that medical needs of
women are met.

He said that the
Government would ensure that women are protected from
discrimination and exploitation at all times and
during all stages of recovery and rehabilitation. He
said that the Government needs support from all
segments of society in this regard.