Pakistan's First Lady seeks women-friendly, harassment-free work environment.

ISLAMABAD -- First Lady Begum Samina Alvi has urged the need for women-friendly and harassment-free work environment so that women can work without fear and contribute to the development and prosperity of their families, organizations, and their country.

She added that it was the responsibility of the business community to make their workplaces women-friendly and provide them with support and necessary facilities to enhance their inclusion in the mainstream of economic sectors, according to a PID handout issued on Sunday.

The First Lady expressed these views while addressing a ceremony to celebrate international women's day at a private sector organization, in Karachi, today. Speaking on the occasion, the First Lady said that without making women a part of businesses and productive workforce, Pakistan could not progress. She stated that those countries progressed that invested in the health and education of women and their empowerment.

She regretted that in Pakistan women's representation in the labour force and mainstream socio-economic activities was much lower as compared to men. She stressed the need to provide women with education, skills and employment opportunities to...