LAHORE: Sixteen scientists of the Punjab University have received `Research Productivity Award 2016` by the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology.

The PU administration organised a ceremony to honour the scientists here on Tuesday.

PU Vice-Chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir appreciated the quality research work by the varsity scientists saying they had brought a good name to it. He said the PU administration would support promotion of research activities. He distributed certificates among the scientists.

The scientists who won the award are: Prof Dr Muhammad Sharif, Prof Dr Shahzad Naseem, Dr Saira Riaz, Prof Dr Shahida Hasnain, Dr HafizAzhar Ali Khan, Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry, Dr Muhammad Zaeemul Haq Bhatti, Prof Dr Muhammad Makshoof Athar, Dr Tayyab Husnain, Dr Muhammad Younis, Dr Abdul Rehman, Prof Dr Tahir Jamil, Dr Tehmina Anjum, Dr Abul Nasir Khalid and Prof Dr Shaheen Naseem Khan.

PCSW: The Punjab Commission on the Status of Women and the Punjab Women`s Parliamentary Caucus have hailed the Lahore High Court`s decision to restore Section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act, 1869 that was suspended by Gen Ziaul Haq in 1981.

This section allows Christian couples to divorce without resorting to the allegation of adultery as the only legal ground for dissolution of their marriage.

Punjab Commission on the Status of Women ChairpersonFauzia Vigar said the commission believed in the equality of all citizens before law as enunciated in Article 25 of the Constitution. She said the commission had similarly denounced the Christian Divorce Act, 1869 as damaging to women`s self-worth, dignity, and basic freedom and had simultaneously advocatedfor the restoration of Section 7 of the Act.

She said many women were left in a marriage where they might be suffering severe cruelty by husbands without possibility of relief. She said restrictions in the law contravened Pakistan`s commitments under multiple international conventions on promoting equality and empowerment of women including the Convention on elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) ratified by Pakistan.