In order to  express their gratitude for passage of pro-women legislation by the Punjab Assembly, Aurat Foundation  organized a meeting of more than thirty representatives on January 3, 2013 in Committee Room A of Punjab Assembly. Ms Mumtaz Mughal Provincial Program ManagerAawaz, Aurat Foundation led the delegation of  senior management of different NGOs.

The participants said that Punjab Assembly has taken a historic step in ensuring approval of eight pro-women laws from the Punjab Assembly to protect the rights of women.  They also appreciated the efforts of Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, advisor to the CM Punjab, and follow up efforts of Women Development Department for implementation on Women Empowerment package, 2012. 

The following eight bills were passed in the last week of December 2012:

1.      The Punjab Protection against the Harassment of Women at the Workplace 
         (Amendment Bill) 2012;
2.      The Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2012 (Urban);
3.      The Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2012 (Rural);
4.      Legal Protection to Gender Mainstream Committees Bill 2012;
5.      Women University Multan (Amendment) Bill 2012;
6.      Government College Women University Faisalabad Bill 2012;
7.      Government College Women University Sialkot Bill 2012;
8.      Government College Women University Bahawalpur Bill 2012;

Mr Irfan Mufti, Deputy Director SAP-PK, Mr Salman Abid, Regional Director  SPO, Ms Naureen Tawakal, Shirkat Gah, Ms Ume Laila, Executive Director Home Net Pakistan, Mr Peter Jacob, Executive Director National Commission on Justice and Peace, Ms Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director WISE,Ms Ghulam Fatima, Executive Director BLLF, Mr Nadeem Fazil, Executive Director WAR against Rape, and Advocate Hina Hafeez expressed their views and appreciated the passage of pro-women  legislation.   

Following proposals were also submitted by all NGOs for urgent consideration by the Government  of  Punjab:

1. Legislation against domestic violence;
2. Establishment of Provincial Commission on Status of Women;
3. Nomination of Ombudsperson;
4. Legislation for Home-based and domestic workers;
5. Women’s protection policy;
6. Establishment of commission for rights of minorities;
7. Legislation against early age marriages.

Rana Mashhood, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly appreciated the role of NGOs and civil society in supporting the legislation for women. He said that NGOs were playing a vital role of torch-bearer in providing valuable services for the guidance and welfare of society.