QUETTA    -   Women activists on Thursday called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to establish a special cell to address the concerns of women.

They expressed these views during a meeting held under the banner of the Shirkat Gah on Local Government Election and Balochistan’s Budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.

Dr Professor Farkhanda the regional head of UNCHR, the political parties’ representatives and Ex Councilors Masooma Ahmed, Saeeda Kamal, Gull Bakht, Shegufta Khan, Masooma Chengezi, Nighat, Kalsom Baloch, Hameeda, Kaniz Fatima, Fatima Gull and the civil society representative and lawyers Komal Afridi, Zarghona, Huma Foladi, Sadiqa Sultan, Shazia Batool, Dr Faiza were the prominent speakers while  former councilors, political parties’ representatives, lawyers, community-based organizations, female journalists and the civil society members also attended the session.  The agenda of the meeting was Local Government Election and Balochistan’s annual budget FY2022-2023 particularly the issues regarding the women active participation in the local government election.

The speakers said that the local government election in district Quetta and delimitations are still the pending issues that need to be addressed by the election commission. Dr. Farkhanda said that there must be a multi-sectoral approach and increased collaboration between the government departments, including the election commission and Nadra.

Komal Afridi said that the trans community was facing numerous issues, including making their computerized national identity cards and other social and political issues. In this regard, the WPF emphasized the need for a strong local government system to address the local issues for the real progress in Balochistan.