Basharat concerned over rise in violence against women
Staff Reporter
Punjab Law and Cooperatives Minister Raja Basharat expressed grave concern over the rising incidents of violence against women across the province and said that there is deep concern over the rising crime against women from the Chief Minister to the lower levels.
Punjab Law and Cooperatives Minister Raja Basharat was presiding over the 82nd meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.
Raja Basharat said that reports from all over the province were saying that crime against women have increased in recent days so concrete steps should be taken instead of seminars to curb the crime.
He warned that denial or delay in registration of FIR against such incidents would not be tolerated.
He directed the Punjab IG Police and Secretary Prosecution to present full details of arrests, challans and investigations in the cases of violence against women in the next meeting of the committee.
The provincial minister further directed the police to activate the district anti-crime cells set up for women in a proper manner and diligently inform the Women Protection Authority of its steps during the investigation.
Expressing deep concern over the alarming rise in the crime rate in Circle Rawalpindi, he directed RPO concerned to submit a detailed report on it. He also directed strict action against the culprits involved in the increasing incidents of child abuse once again rising in Kasur.
The minister also called for foolproof security arrangements for the upcoming Chehlum processions and cricket matches.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee accorded approval to the appointment of Price Magistrates across the province.
Chairperson Women Authority Fatima Chadhar, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Additional IG Punjab, AIG CTD and Special Branch, CCPO and other officers were also present while Divisional Commissioners and RPOs gave briefings through video link.
Meanwhile, International Literacy Day was celebrated on Wednesday in Punjab. Provincial Minister Literacy& Non Formal Basic Education Raja Rashid Hafeez was the chief guest at the main event of the day.
The events of the day opened with an inaugural speech by the minister, highlighting the importance of literacy and education, the interventions and achievements of the government in achieving the objectives of literacy and education and the activities of the department in this area.
The Minister while highlighting the achievements of the department informed that 13,519 Non-Formal Schools were run by department with an enrollment of 434,479 children and adolescents.
The highest number of enrollment was registered in 2019 under the present government. The department had imparted adult literacy since its inception to 2,778,157 Adult Illiterates.
Under the present government the period of adult literacy classes was enhanced to 6 months and the curriculum was upgraded and diversified in order to make the course more robust and to attract greater number of learners.
The department, with the support of JICA had recently introduced a 32 month Katchi to primary course in order to attract enrollment and retention of children and adolescents who were overage for the grade that they needed to be enrolled in.
The department with the assistance of UNICEF had started early childhood education model of teaching and learning in selected schools.
