"The Punjab Women Protection Authority 2017 has been conceptualized as a holistic, technocratic structure with the sole purpose of ensuring implementation of the Women Protection Act and guarantying protection and rehabilitation of the women in Punjab"
In a recent notification issued by the Chief Minister, the Punjab Women Protection Authority members have been notified. The notification has been issued in light of Section 3 of the Punjab Women Protection Authority Act 2017. The authority, comprising of a total of 16 members will be chaired the Chief Minister while DG Strategic Reforms Unit, Mr. Salman Sufi will be the acting Director General of the Authority.
The Strategic Reforms Unit played an instrumental role in the drafting and passage of the Punjab Protection of Women Protection Act 2017 and the subsequent establishment of the Violence Against Women Centers, which is why the Chief Minister desired that Mr. Salman Sufi be given the charge of the DG of the authority on a pro-bono basis till the appointment of a regular DG. This has been done to ensure the smooth establishment of the authority in its initial phases.
Additionally, the authority will have 4 representatives from the provincial assembly including Ms. Hameeda Waheed ud Din, Ms. Ayesha Javed, Mr. Mahmood Cheema and Mr. Khurrum Ijaz Chattha. While Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Ms. Fiza Farhan, Mr. Rana Maqbool Ahmed (ex-IGP) and Dr. Zakria Zakar (Dean Institute of Social & Cultural Studies, Punjab University) have been notified as the technocratic members of the authority since they possess subsequent experience in the field of women rights & empowerment.
Lastly, the authority board will have a set of ex-officio members comprising of ACS (Home), I.G. Punjab, Secretary Finance, Secretary Social Welfare, Secretary Women Development and Secretary Public Prosecution.