A delegation of civil society representatives met with Provincial Minister for Women Development Ms. Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din on 26 February 2016 at the office of Women Development Department to acknowledge her efforts for passing the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016.

Ms. Waheed-ud-Din, while talking to civil society representatives at his office said that effective implementation of the protection bill will be ensured. Ms. Mumtaz Mughal, Resident Director Aurat Foundation, Ms. Ruhi Maqbool, Regional Manager MDM, Mr. Salman Abid, Regional Head SPO, Ms. Ferzana Mumtaz, National Manager  Advocacy SAP-PK, Ms. Ume Laila Executive Director, Home Net Pakistan, Ms. Ambreen Fatima Actionaid, Former MPA Ms. Amna Ulfat, social and women rights activists Dr. Zarqa Tamour, Ms. Fakhra Tehreem, Ms. Sumera Saleem, Ms. Rizwana Waseem,  Mr. Abid Ali, Mr. Muhammad Zubair and representatives from Mumkin Alliance and civil society organizations were present at the occasion.

Ms. Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din said that efforts of civil society, women assembly members and Women Development Department were commendable for the passage of the protection bill. She said that implementation of the bill would be ensured while attention would also be paid to the awareness campaign. She said the purpose of the bill was to curb violence against women while it would also save family system in our society. 

Ms. Mumtaz Mughal Resident Director Aurat Foundation said that it was due to the continuous struggle of civil society and cooperation of the government that the bill had been passed. The fruits of this legislation are linked to its implementation in letter and spirit; as only a transparent system of complaints and quick reduce violence against women.

The representatives of civil society stressed that an awareness campaign regarding the rights of women should be made more effective. They congratulated the government on the passage of the bill and said that it would control violence against women and they would be able to play their due role in national development with more confidence.