The Federal Ministry of Law and Justice has launched the Women in Law Award and held the first ever symposium on Diversity and Inclusion in Islamabad.
The event marks a key milestone of a collaboration between the MoL&J, Group Development Pakistan and the Women in Law Initiative Pakistan for increasing women’s representation in law, with support fromthe Australian High Commission and the British High Commission.
The Australian High Commissioner Dr. Geoffrey Shaw and the British High Commission Political Counsellor Ms. Iona Thomas attended the event.
The speakers included Hon’able Justice (r) Naisra Iqbal, Barrister Taimur Malik, Barrister Aneesa Agha and ASP Ayesha Gul. The panel highlighted the need for institutional responsibility and reforms for fair representation in the justice sector.
The event also featured the launch of ‘Pakistan Journal of Diversity and Inclusion’.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Federal Ministry of Law and Justice, Barrister Maleeka Bukhari said, that she was particularly proud to showcase the talent of Pakistani women lawyers and hoped that sich endeavor would contribute to addressing the gender gap in the justice sector.
Twenty-six candidates emerged as winners out of seventy-two nominees in eighteen categories. Asma Hamid was declared winner in the category ‘Advocate of the Year’ while Maliha Zia Lari won the award for ‘Outstanding Comeback of the Year’ and as Gender and Diversity Champion (Sindh).
The awards also honored law students, rising stars and gender and diversity champions from KP (Rubina Naz), Punjab (Maria Farooq) and Balochistan (Sabira Islam).
The Federal Law Minister, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem, congratulated the winners and delivered the closing address; heiterated his commitment to contribute to women’s empowerment for an open and inclusive society in line with Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision, the Constitution of Pakistan, and the country’s international obligations.
