Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has stressed the need to empower women for the development of the country.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Friday, he said provision of safe and conducive environment to women entrepreneur is our national responsibility.

Ahsan Iqbal said our religion and constitution also guarantee the protection of women rights.

He further said at the onset of Islam in the early 600s CE, the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) expanded women's rights to include inheritance, property and marriage rights.

Condemning the brutality against women, the Minister said due respect should be given to women at workplace and educational institutions, encouraging them to play more effective role in national development.

He stressed that a countrywide awareness campaign should be launched against women harassment.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives has launched a sixteen days campaign against Gender Based Violence and established a Gender Unit in the Ministry amid the socioeconomic empowerment of women to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

This is an annual international campaign that begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until Human Rights Day.                                 

Under the campaign, the Young Development Fellows attached with the ministry will start visiting educational institutes to organize the event to create awareness among the masses.