Expatriates are maligning the image of Pakistan overseas: Musharraf
(Updated at 1710 PST)
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the reason behind the discrimination of women in Pakistan is the long-standing culture of conservatism and traditionalism and has strongly condemned the expatriate Pakistanis who are maligning the image of Pakistan overseas.
While addressing the concluding ceremony of the UN’s millennium development goals in Islamabad President Musharraf said that the elimination of discrimination of women in Pakistan cannot be achieved without development. He said that Pakistan is not the only country where there is poverty, unemployment and women discrimination but it is the Pakistanis who are maligning there own image of their country.
Musharraf said that to compete with the developing nations and for achieving development targets Pakistan’s GDP must be increased by 0.7 percent. He said that the government has provided protection to Dr Shazia and Mukhtaran Mai and the government is trying its best for the protection of women’s rights but instead of making new laws the mandate of the people must be changed.
Earlier advisor to the Prime Minister for Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar issued a five-yearly declaration from 2005 to 2010, which was unanimously approved by all the countries. According to the Islamabad plan of action all the countries would engage in the law making process on priority basis in the next five years for the elimination of poverty, provision of education and health facilities and for elimination women discrimination.
While addressing the ceremony special advisor to the US President and Senior Director for democracy, human rights and international operations Shireen Tahirkheli said that President Bush condemns violence against women and places special importance on the role of women in the US foreign policy.
how much do you agree with this? do you feel that OS Pakistanis only bash the country and dont project a positive image as Pakistani and of Pakistan???
are we expatriates guilty of this crime? i know there are people who just dont want to be part of Pakistan or callled a Pakistani. somehow when it comes to Pakistan they just start bashing from one thing to another!!