NCSW to conduct survey on obstacles of women empowerment: Khawar Mumtaz

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP): Newly selected chairperson National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) Khawar Mumtaz on Thursday said a survey to identify obstacles in the way of women empowerment is on cards.
“The initial homework for the survey had already been done but the project was stopped after the end of my tenure”, she said who already served on the same site till December 31, 2015 till expiry of her tenure.
Khawar Mumtaz is a recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz (March 23, 2006) and also the recipient for the Prime Minister’s award for the co-authored book, Women of Pakistan; Two Steps Forward One step Back?’ (1989), official sources informed APP.
She received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for social service and promotion of women’s rights in 2006 and was one of the 100 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
She did M.A. International Relations from Karachi University and topped in the examination. She also has a Diploma in French Language.
Before joining NCSW as its Chairperson, Mumtaz was Chief Executive Officer of Shirkat Gah, a leading women’s rights and development organization and had also served as a Member of NCSW from (2009-2012).
She had almost 30 years of experience of activism and working on women’s rights and development. Her specific expertise is in the areas of women and development; women’s political participation, poverty and environment, women’s reproductive health and rights.
Her work spans from capacity building of grassroots organizations, to research, analysis and evidence based advocacy with policy makers. She also has over 60 publications to her name.
She has served/serving on a number of international and national boards including as Vice-President of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Society for International Development (SID).
Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, headed by member national assembly Tahmina Doltana, unanimously finalized her name as head of six commissions and forwarded her name to Prime Minister for approval.
Three names were short listed for the said post including Dr. Farkhanda International Islamic University Islamabad, Huma Chugtai technical advisor to women parliamentary caucus and women rights activist, researcher and former NCSW Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz.
The committee conducted the interviews of the nominated candidates and finalized name of Khawar Mumtaz with the mutual consent of representatives of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-a-Insaaf and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).