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Thank you President Dr. Arif Alvi for your kind Consideration

Fariyal Mir

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Women’s financial inclusion, digital empowerment vital to improving economy: President. women are capable of doing anything. They just need support and encouragement.

ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP): President Dr. Arif Alvi Friday said that the inclusion of women in the financial mainstream, as well as their digital empowerment, would bring about economic stability besides many other intangible benefits to the society.

The president, addressing the launching ceremony of State Bank’s policy on “Banking on Equality” to ensure women’s financial inclusion, said a financially independent woman could not be exploited.

First Lady Samina Alvi, parliamentarians, State Bank Governor Raza Baqir, SBP Deputy Governor Seema Kamil, CEOs of banks and financial institutions attended the event.

The president said the women’s financial inclusion would also significantly improve the country’s GDP as women were more reliable handlers of the financial products as had also been experienced in Bangladesh as well as Pakistan.

He said with the changing dynamics of the society marking minimizing needs of physical labor, the women could easily play their role in the society by using the internet and other digital tools.

With the five pillars of diversity, inclusion, accessibility, transparency, and leadership, the policy has set a target of around 20 million women’s bank accounts by 2023. Currently, only 13% of the bank staff and 1% of branchless banking agents are women.

Under the policy, the financial institutions would be asked to ensure a minimum of 20% female participation in the workforce by 2024.

President Alvi told the gathering that opening a bank account of women was just one method of financial inclusion as it would open up more avenues.

He said a secure environment was inevitable for the women to make them play a productive role as the security of their children was always the family’s top priority.

At the same time, the president said it was also equally essential to teach the society on ethics and its responsibilities, exemplifying the Minar-e-Pakistan incident where the people opted to film the female harassment scene instead of forbidding the wrongdoers.

The president said it was unfortunate that Pakistan lagged behind in the number of women bank account holders comparing other Muslim countries and appreciated the SBP’s target of 20 million women bank accounts by 2023 as proposed in the policy.

He also suggested that the number of women’s bank accounts could have a quantum jump if Ehsaas disbursements to all 17 million women were switched through banking channels instead of cash. It will also ensure women’s enhanced control over the money, he added.

Referring to the passage of a law to protect women’s property rights, the president also appreciated a decision of the Balochistan High Court barring women from gifting their inherited property to anyone unless it was transferred to her.

President Alvi urged the women parliamentarians to be aware women about the loan amount specified by banks for women which currently remained under-utilized.

At the end, the president also reiterated his message for self-examination and early diagnosis of breast cancer as October would be observed as a month for awareness on the disease. He said owing to delayed diagnosis, the mortality rate in Pakistan was 50%, comparing just 2% in the world.

Earlier, State Bank Governor Raza Baqir presented a copy of the policy to the president which will assign outreach targets for saving and credit products to enhance access, usage, and quality of financial services to women.

In his address, Raza Baqir said the policy had been finalized after detailed consultation with all the stakeholders.

He said Pakistan lagged far behind among Muslim countries vis-à-vis the number of women bank account holders which were 70% in Saudi Arabia, UAE 76%, Turkey 54%, and Malaysia 82%.

He said the extension of the digital account opening facility across Pakistan would also help enhance the number of account holders including men and women. He also thanked the banks and other financial institutions for supporting the central banks in policy formulation and also urged them to own and implement the document.

Earlier, Seema Kamil said it was a historic day for women of Pakistan as financial inclusion was their right. She said being gender-neutral had not been enough, so it was required to adopt a gender intentional approach.

She asked the banks to provide a conducive environment, welcome, value, and respect their women customers to encourage their financial inclusion.

CEO of Froward Sports Khawaja Masood, whose company was effectively promoting the objective, said women’s financial inclusion would cast a substantial impact on the national economy. He said the financial institutions should ensure that their respect and grace were not compromised. CEO of Standard Chartered

Pakistan

Aik Qaum, Aik Sath | Pakistan Zindabad | Pakistan Day Song | 23rd March 2024 | AIKQAUM.COM

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Nation celebrates Pakistan Day today with traditional zeal

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The nation celebrates Pakistan Day on Sunday with a renewed pledge to transform the country into a true Islamic and welfare state in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The day is observed to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution passed on 23rd March in 1940, under which Muslims of the Sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.

The day dawned with thirty-one-gun salute in the federal capital and twenty-one-gun salute in provincial capitals.

Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for progress and prosperity of the country.

The special feature of the day will be Pakistan Day Military Parade in Islamabad on a limited scale at Aiwan-e-Sadr due to the month of Ramadan.

President Asif Ali Zardari will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Contingents from all the three armed forces will actively participate in the Parade.

Fighter jets from Pakistan Air Force will conduct a flypast.

Radio Pakistan and PTV are broadcasting special programmes to highlight the significance of the day and pay tribute to the leaders and workers of Pakistan Movement.

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Pakistan Day: A Reminiscence of the Heroic Struggle of Muslims of the Subcontinent

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Pakistan Day, observed annually on March 23rd, holds a place of immense significance in the history of Pakistan. It marks the passing of the Lahore Resolution in 1940, which laid the foundation for the creation of an independent state for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. This historic day serves as a reminder of the heroic struggle, sacrifices, and unwavering resolve of the Muslims who aspired for a separate homeland where they could live with dignity and practice their religion freely.

The Lahore Resolution: A Milestone in the Freedom Struggle

The All India Muslim League, under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, convened its annual session in Lahore from March 22 to 24, 1940. On March 23rd, the historic resolution was passed at Minto Park (now known as Iqbal Park), demanding separate states for Muslims in the northwestern and eastern regions of India. This resolution, often referred to as the “Pakistan Resolution,” became the cornerstone of the Pakistan Movement and galvanized Muslims into an organized struggle for their rights.

The Heroic Struggle and Sacrifices of the Muslims

The road to independence was not an easy one. The Muslims of the subcontinent faced tremendous challenges, including political opposition, social hardships, and economic constraints. The demand for a separate homeland was met with strong resistance from both the British colonial rulers and the Indian National Congress. However, the unwavering commitment of Muslim leaders and activists fueled the movement with newfound energy and resilience.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, through his unmatched leadership and unwavering determination, guided the Muslims towards their goal. He emphasized the importance of unity, faith, and discipline, inspiring millions to rally behind the cause. Countless individuals sacrificed their lives, endured imprisonment, and faced brutal oppression, all for the dream of an independent Pakistan.

The Creation of Pakistan: A Dream Realized

The struggle for independence culminated in the emergence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. The dream envisioned in the Lahore Resolution turned into a reality, marking the beginning of a new era for the Muslims of the subcontinent. The creation of Pakistan was not just the establishment of a new country; it was the fulfillment of a long-cherished aspiration for freedom, identity, and sovereignty.

Pakistan Day: A Tribute to the Nation’s Heroes

March 23rd is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Pakistan. The day begins with special prayers for the prosperity and security of the country, followed by military parades, flag-hoisting ceremonies, and cultural events. The highlight of the day is the grand parade in Islamabad, where the armed forces display their prowess, and national leaders pay tribute to the sacrifices of the past.

Pakistan Day serves as a moment of reflection and gratitude. It reminds the nation of the core principles that led to the creation of Pakistan—unity, faith, and discipline. It is also a call to action for the younger generation to uphold the values of hard work, patriotism, and national integrity to ensure a prosperous future for the country.

Pakistan Day is more than just a historical milestone; it is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Muslims of the subcontinent. It is a day to honor the sacrifices of the past and reaffirm the commitment to building a strong and progressive Pakistan. As the nation moves forward, it must continue to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and unity that were at the heart of the Pakistan Movement.

May Pakistan continue to shine as a beacon of hope, strength, and prosperity for generations to come. Pakistan Zindabad!

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