SAHIWAL: There is need to raise awareness among women regarding malpractices in the revenue department in the transfer of inherited land, says Punjab Commission on Status of Women (PCSW) chairperson Fauzia Waqar.

“It is a common practice that inherited land is transferred in the revenue department record under the inheritance laws but its possession/share is never given to women,” she says.

Ms Waqar who held a meeting with revenue officials at the DCO office here on Tuesday, stressed the transfer of actual land must be linked with its distribution among legal heirs.

She said a study by the PCSW -- Legal Reforms on Land Inheritance 2015 and Impact On Women -- had recommended that the inherited land must actually be distributed among legal heirs.

She told revenue officials that the Punjab Land Revenue Act amended in 2012 and later in 2015, did safeguard women’s rights in matters of inheritance and land ownership.

She said the Punjab government was keen to ensure that women’s rights in inheritance law must not be violated. She said revenue officials would be penalized if transfer of inherited land was not done along with actual distribution of land.

The meeting was attended by DCO Muhammad Khan Khichi, AC Asghar Sabah, DOC Shafiq Dogar and representatives from local civil society.

She said the commission was monitoring jail, sub-jail and Darul Ammans across Punjab to ensure rights of women.

She said women must call the helpline 1043 to seek assistance on matters like workplace harassment, gender-based discrimination, property disputes, domestic violence and information on hostels, daycare centres and other facilities for working women. “This helpline is part of the PCSW’s efforts to raise awareness on women’s rights.”

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2016