An agreement signing ceremony between Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) and Ferotek Private Limited (FPL) was held here on Monday under which Punjab Women Helpline 1043 would be operated by the FPL. This helpline is one of its kinds in Pakistan and provides 24/7 legal advice and addresses complaints and inquiries of women in Punjab. Punjab Women Development Department Secretary Sumaira Samad attended the ceremony while the agreement was signed by PSCW Secretary Nabila Javaid and Ferotek Private Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Danish Iqbal. Speaking at the ceremony, Sumaira Samad said that the Punjab government, under the guidance of the chief minister, was taking practical steps for women empowerment and protection of their rights. She appreciated the role of PCSW in promoting gender equality and the rights of women in the province and to eliminate discrimination against women besides creating an environment where women could fully participate in all spheres of life. The PCSW also presented the progress of the helpline over the past year. The helpline handled 23,046 calls during this period, offering vital assistance and legal guidance to women facing a variety of challenges. Out of these calls, 1,538 women sought help with family issues, 622 women received support in registering and seeking early relief in criminal cases, and 2,134 women sought legal guidance and referral services for property-related matters. Additionally, 4,246 women reached out for assistance with harassment issues, while 4,881 women contacted the helpline to report incidents of violence and torture, for which they received legal guidance and referral services. Notably, 9,625 womens calls to the helpline were related to seeking guidance on general womens issues, including information about womens rights and privileges. This steadfast support mechanism for women in distress enabled the helpline 1043 to win the confidence of women in Punjab. The Punjab Womens Helpline has not just been a crisis intervention service, it has grown into a trusted source of guidance and support for women facing family issues, violence, torture, property issues, and criminal issues. The ceremony was attended by Women Development Department Additional Secretary Rizwana Urooj Bhatti, Director Sajjad Saqib, Deputy Secretary Administration Muhammad Najeeb, Deputy Secretary Planning Ubaidullah, Deputy Director Syed Ishfaq Bukhari and others.
