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LAHORE, Nov 14 (APP): Chairperson Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Hina Parvez Butt chaired a key meeting of the District Women Protection Committee Lahore at the PWPA Head Office on Friday.
The session focused on strengthening women protection mechanisms in Lahore, improving institutional coordination, addressing service delivery gaps, and finalising the district’s joint strategy for the upcoming “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.
On the occasion, Director General PWPA Kalsoom Saqib briefed participants on the functioning of the Women Protection Centre Lahore, highlighting medico-legal requirements, referral challenges, coordination with police and health departments, and current services for women survivors of violence.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner General Lahore Capt (retd) Zukhraf Fida Malik, Additional DIG Operations Lahore Usman Chaudhry, Assistant Director Prosecution Muzammil, Virtual Women Police Station representative Arsh Noor, Local Government Department representative Anam, Chairperson Bali Memorial Trust Laila Nusrat, LUMS Law School Assistant Professor Angbeen Atif Mirza, Executive Director DASTAK Saba Sheikh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the All Pakistan Women’s Association Durre Shahwar, JICA representative Noriko Hara, and District Women Protection Officer Lahore Rabia Usman.
Addressing the meeting, Hina Parvez Butt said the District Women Protection Committee is a legally mandated forum responsible for providing timely, integrated, and dignified support to women survivors under one window. She stressed that institutions must coordinate effectively to ensure assistance reaches survivors without delay.
She highlighted the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, emphasising that women’s safety, justice, and empowerment are top government priorities. Hina reiterated the CM’s instructions for zero delay and zero tolerance in cases of violence, harassment, or exploitation, and called for immediate legal, medical, and psychological support for survivors.
The meeting included discussions on strengthening the Women Protection Centre Lahore, activating medico-legal services, appointing a woman medical officer, improving police rescue and FIR protocols, enhancing prosecution coordination, expanding community outreach through local government, and deepening collaboration with civil society organisations. The JICA representative assured continued technical assistance and training support to strengthen service delivery.
The committee finalised a comprehensive district-level action plan for the “16 Days of Activism” campaign, including awareness activities in universities and colleges, Union Council–level outreach, hospital-based help desks, joint initiatives with Police and Safe City Authority, and coordinated media campaigns to promote the 1737 helpline and Women Protection Centre services.
Concluding the meeting, Hina Parvez directed all departments to immediately nominate focal persons, finalise coordination mechanisms, activate medico-legal processes, and ensure timely execution of the 16 Days district plan. She underscored that building a safe Lahore and Punjab for women is a shared duty and collective mission.