Govt Committed To Emancipation Of Women:PM Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said his government had always worked for the emancipation of women and believes they can achieve unprecedented prominence in every field if provided equal opportunities.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Namira Salim, the first Pakistani astronaut here at the Prime Minister's House.He said Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed's vision for the future included women emancipation.

The prime minister commended Namira Salim's daring spirit and her accomplishment that generated a positive press for Pakistan internationally.He wished her good luck in her future endeavours.

Namira Salim presented the prime minister a porcelain lamp designed by her, bearing a sculpted portrait of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. She also highlighted her recent adventures as the first Pakistani at the North Pole and South Pole and the first Asian and Pakistani to have skydived from above the Mount Everest at 29,500 feet.

Namira Salim is the only Pakistani founding member of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, the world's first private space line. On June 3, on the sidelines of the EU-Pakistani Summit in Brussels, Namira Salim presented Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani with the first national flag sent to space.

While Namira's adventures have inspired women to excel in all walks of life, she is also a talented artist. Her innovative art objects have been exhibited as supported events to the United Nations General Assembly in 2002, at UNESCO's Executive Board in the year 2000 and at SAARC Summit Pakistan in 2004. Her collectibles are created under her private label.She holds an lvy League Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, New York, and seeks to promote UN related issues through her art.