Female staff members of the National Assembly Secretariat are allowed to leave for home before sunset on days when assembly sessions extend past dusk, The News reported on Friday.
NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, after giving the permission, said that protecting women’s rights was a collective responsibility. He stressed the need to take all necessary steps to provide balance between professional and domestic responsibilities for women.
MNA Dr Shahida Rahman, secretary general of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, appreciated the speaker’s initiative, saying that the parliament was committed to protecting women’s rights. She said this decision would facilitate women in balancing work and family life.
MNA Nighat Shakeel, convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, said this step would have a positive impact on child upbringing and was an important step towards improving women’s lives.
MNA Shaista Pervez Malik, country ambassador for women political leaders, said this initiative was worth-emulating for other institutions, and its implementation was necessary in government and private institutions for women.