ANKARA, 6 November 2012:  A high level delegation from Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led by Minister for Social Welfare, Special Education & Women Empowerment Ms. Sitara Ayaz, held meeting with Turkish Deputy Minister for Family & Social Policy Prof. Dr. Ashkin Asan here in Ankara today.

The Pakistan delegation also included Minister for Zakat & Usher Mr. Zarshaid Khan, Additional Secretary Social Welfare Mr. Ruhullah Khan, and Deputy Chief of Child Protection & Welfare Commission Mr. Ijaz M. Khan.

The Turkish side agreed to consider possibility of setting up an orphanage based on the Turkish model. Turkey also offered that Pakistan could study Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul Convention), which is the first comprehensive legally binding legislation to tackle this serious violation of human rights. Ms Sitara Ayaz said her government will study the proposal.

Lauding the excellent achievements made by Turkey in providing social safety nets to its citizens, Ms Sitara Ayaz said Pakistan can learn a lot from the Turkish experience in protecting the vulnerable sections of society such as women, children, orphans, etc. She also briefed the hosts about the legislation introduced for women empowerment and child protection in her province. Our government has empowered women legally, socially, politically and economically, she said.

Ms Sitara proposed to hold exhibitions of handicrafts produced by women from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Turkey. This will help sharing experience between the women entrepreneurs and shall further boost economic empowerment of women. Ms. Sitara Ayaz invited Prof. Dr. Ashkin to visit Pakistan.

 

The Pakistani delegation also had field visits to Children Nursery, Women Education & Culture Centre, Orphanage and other relevant organizations both in Ankara and Istanbul.