Minutes of the Meeting of the 5th General Assembly

18th June, 2009 at 2:00 pm

1. The meeting started with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Dr. Firdous
Ashiq Awan, Federal Minister for Population Welfare.
2. The Speaker chaired the meeting and in all 48 Members attended the meeting.
3. The Speaker welcomed the participants and informed them about the newly-
formed office of the WPC and invited Members to visit the premises.
4. The Speaker then highlighted the meeting’s agenda, which pertained to the
initiatives of the WPC, regarding the IDPs. She praised the efforts of Yasmeen
Rehman, Nuzhat Sadiq, Khalida Mansoor and all those other members who
contributed to the cause in cash or kind.
5. The Speaker stressed the members to actively participate in the activities of
the Caucus as it is an across-the-board forum and draws it strength from the
active participation of its members.
6. the Speaker also welcomed the Senators who participated in the WPC General
Assembly for the first time.
7. Nafisa Shah then gave a brief of the two visits, conducted by the two groups
of the Members of the Caucus. She informed that as a result of these visits,
there are now demands by the camp operators for various donations, such as
hygine kits for women, dried milk, medicines etc.
8. The Speaker before opening the forum, also reminded the Members of the
efforts of young doctors of Ayub Medical Complex
9. Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan informed that Members that in each camp the centres
of Ministry of Population Welfare are in operation. She requested the
members to monitor these centres. She also announced to donate the
maximum number of hygiene kits, as referred by Nafisa Shah.
10. Farahnaz Isphahani stressed for more field visits, involving more women
legislators.
11. Fakhrunnisa Khokhar referred to more than 69 thousand pregnant women in
these camps and called for providing them with efficient antenatal and
prenatal care to them.
12. Marvi Memon said that for a Caucus to succeed as a group, it would be
essential to focus on legislation.
13. Senator Kalsoom Parveen assured all support to the Caucus.
14. Khalida Mansoor recalled her visit to the Swabi Camp and stressed the need
to support and help to Ayub Medical Complex. She also stressed on reaching
out to IDPs in remote camps.
15. Dr. Atiya Inayatullah regretted that she could not join the visits as she had to
urgently attend to the plight of one of her employees, stranded in Swat. She
suggested She said she had visited on her own and had found that the
following items were urgently needed:
a. Sanitary towels
b. medicines
16. Tasneem Siddiqui informed that she had also visited with the WPC
delegation. She said that the situation was even worse for those IDPs, living
 outside the camps. In her visit to these IDPs, living in a Govt. School, she
found that the sanitation conditions were very bad.
17. Sanator Gulshan Saeed said that she was approached by people from Swat,
who told her that though Bait-ul-Maal has provided cheques but these are
post-dated and so they are cash-starved. In view of this, it’s essential to
provide cash assistance to them. She also announced a donation of Rs. One
Hundred Thousand.
18. Imrana also suggested for improving the hygiene conditions of the camp.
19. Dr. Naheed offered her services as a gynaecologist to work in these Camps.
20. Shaheen Ishfaq suggested providing more clothes for new-born babies. She
announced a donation of Rs.50,000/-.
21. Parveen Masood Bhatti said that this fund should continue even during the
peace time.
22. This suggestion was widely appreciated by the meeting and Dr. Azra Fazal
and Farahnaz Isphahani announced a regular contribution of Rs.5,000/- per
month till the life of the present Assembly.
23. Shehnaz Saleem suggested that in these camps, WPC should organise meeting
and socialising areas for women. She also suggested providing games and
other recreational facilities for the children.
24. Bushra Rehman suggested streamlining Caucus activities on sustainable
ground. She proposed sub-classifying the camps and assigning women groups
to look after all the needs. She announced to support the relief activities of
WPC.
25. Senator Farah Aqil Shah referred to the plight of IDPs living outside the
camp.
26. Begum Tahira Aurangzaib invited the attention of IDPs reaching Islamabad
and Rawalpindi. She announced donating 2000 stitched clothes for women
and support for 5 children born.
27. Suriya Asghar regretted that she could not visit along-with the Caucus
delegation in view of her family engagements. She
28. Senator Shilrala Malik thanked the Speaker for involving the Senators as well.
She suggested providing assistance to the newly-born. She offered a donation
of Rs.5,000/-.
29. Jamila Gilani also highlighted the plight of IDPs living outside the Camp.
30. The Speaker noted the presence of Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar and praised her
stature as a former Minister and women rights activist. She hoped that Senator
Bakhtiar’s experience would be a source of strength for the Caucus.
31. Khushbakht Shujaat announced sponsoring two newly-born babies. She
however inquired about the system of monitoring these sponsorships. She also
announce a donation of Rs.55,000/ - on behalf of MQM women legislators.
32. The Speaker informed that the monitoring of the sponsored child would be
carried out by the concerned legislator herself so that a personal touch is also
established. She also suggested a donation of Rs.5,000/- per member (one-
time). The House overwhelmingly approved it.
33. Bushra Gohar pointed to the problem of missing children or those separated
from their families. She announced a donation of Rs.50,000/-.
34. Kishwar Zehra appreciated the efforts of the Caucus and assured her
continued support.
35. Shagufta Sadiq referred to the plight of IDPs and stressed for devising a
sustainable and long-term plan for the relief and rehabilitation operations from
the platform of the Caucus.
36. Reena Kumari offered to provide medicines, if a list is provided to her.
37. Yasmeen Rehman resolved to continue her support to the WPC. She informed
that she had received donation from a committed PPP worker who
provided relief goods in remembrance of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
38. Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani proposed weekly visits and announced a donation
of Rs.20,000/-
39. Beelum Hasnain announced a donation of Rs.30,00/- and asked for dedicated
village for her to support on continued
40. Asia Nasir proposed adopting a family, instead of a child and providing it
monthly stipend.
41. Shamshad Sattar Bachani announced a support of Rs.20,000/- and a monthly
support of Rs.5,000/- per month for one family. She pointed out that the IDPs
belong to hilly areas and cannot sustain the heat of the plains. They should,
therefore be shifted to other hilly areas like Abbottabad, Mansehra etc.
42. Dr. Zille Humma informed that IDPs have also reached Baluchistan and they
need WPC’s assistance. The Speaker agreed to it.
43. Samina Mushtaq Paganwala announced a donation of Rs.50,000/-
44. Farzana Mushtaq Ghani announced a donation of Rs.50,000/- and a monthly
grant of Rs.5,000/-
45. Mehreen Razaq Bhutto assured all support on behalf of her Ministry of Health
and supported the idea of a dedicated area for Caucus’ support. She also
floated the idea of purchase committee for the procurement of medicines.
46. Shirin Arshad informed that she has a stitching facility and can get the clothes
stitched free of cost if she’s provided with the cloth.
47. Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar thanked the Speaker for inviting her and assured her
of all support. She informed that as there is a dare need for sanitary kits, there
is a donor agency named GTZ, which specialises in providing such kits. She
offered to contact the agency on behalf of the Caucus.
48. Former Senator Razina Alam Khan thanked the speaker for inviting her
despite not being the sitting Member of the Parliament. She offered her
services for the Caucus and announced a donation of Rs.50,000/- for the
WPC.
49. Shakila Khanum Rasheed said that there are reports that hospitals in areas like
Mingora, Kalam and other areas have been completely destroyed. These need
assistance. She also referred to the plight of non-Muslim IDPs.
50. Dr. Donya Aziz feared that if dried milk and water is donated, there may be
cases of selling these donations in the market. She announced a donation of
Rs.20,000/- to the Caucus.
51. Shahnaz Wazir Ali supported the idea of adopting a camp or a school, where
the IDPs are living. She referred to the groundwork carried out by NCHD in
this respect, regarding identifying such clusters of IDPs outside the camps
 from which the Caucus could benefit. She announced a donation of
Rs.25,000/-.
52. Nafisa Shah announced a donation of Rs.100,000/-
53. Dr. Azra suggested forming a Committee to run any adopted camp.
54. Nuzhat Sadiq gave a brief of donations earlier received and requested the
members to pay their membership dues.
55. The Speaker highly appreciated the endeavour of the Members and announced
forming Procurement Committee, Committee of IDPs and also suggested
forming regular groups to visit the IDP camps.
56. The meeting ended with a note of thanks to the chair.