The Third Seminar of FOCUS Pakistan was on "Enhancing Pakistan's Image by Empowering Women" Held on 3rd February 2005 at Avari Hotel, Lahore. 

The Speakers included Js. (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Begum Mehnaz Rafi (MNA), Zarrin Aziz (President, First Women Bank), Qudsia Lodhi (Provincial Minister), Maha Raja Tareen (MPA), Dr. Shaista Nuzhat and Asnath Kanwal. Secretary General, Muzaffar Muhammad Ali read a verse from the Holy Quran and a Hadith, in which the importance of women in building a better society was appreciated. President, Dr. M. Owais Farooqui introduced the speakers and acted as moderator for the seminar. 

Ms. Neelofar Bahtiar (Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development) sent her message clarifying the amendments in the law regarding women empowerment and equal rights under consideration of Government. Dr. Ghazala Irfan read her message. 

Columnist Asnath Kanwal and Dr. Shaista Nuzhat (Director, Punjab Institute of Art, and Culture & Language) read their papers and with a literary touch highlighted the pathetic condition of women in Pakistan. Qudsia Lodhi and Maha Raja Tareen advocated their government's policies. Nasira Iqbal said much had been done in Pakistan for empowerment of Women, yet there was greater need to take more concrete steps to check indiscrimination and violence against women. She said the international women's conference held at Beijing in 1995 was the first moot that had raised the issue of women's empowerment and identified 12 areas of their suppression and indiscrimination which need corrective measures. These include poverty, education, health care, and violence, lack of respect and opportunities and economic inequity. She appreciated the government's decision of increasing women's representation in the assemblies and local councils as a step in the right direction. 

MNA Begum Mehnaz Rafi said the dream of women empowerment could not be realized unless society changed its negative thinking and attitude against women. She said she would soon move a bill in the National Assembly against domestic violence of women to check its increasing trend in the country. She also reiterated lack of progress in implementation of Beijing declaration. 

First Women Bank President Zarin Aziz said women constituted half of the country's population that needed an equal participatory role. Women had played an important role in reviving economies of many countries on the globe. In Pakistan, she said, Women's participation was hampered by lack of access to capital and credit, information and market linkages, lack of business and management skills and decision-making 

Ms Nilofer Bakhtiar said the government had taken significant steps for women legal, political, economic and social empowerment. A multi-pronged approach had been adopted with a shift from merely welfare approach to a long-term development Program. It included direct public-private partnerships and greater collaboration with donor and UN agencies. She said the Women Development Ministry had also worked upon a network of overseas Pakistani Women to connect them with the development activities in Pakistan.