LAHORE
A number of educational institutions of the provincial metropolis on Tuesday organised events to observe World Women’s Day.
Punjab University’s Department of Gender Studiesobserved the day by organising a seminar at its auditorium and a colorful women’s gala at its lawns.
Among others Prof Dr Zakria Zakar, Ms Mumtaz Mughal, Salman Abid, Sirfaraz Kazmi, Dr Ra’ana Malik and Ms Anosha spoke at the seminar. Dr Zakria said our society could not progress without input from women, adding women must come forward and play their role in national and social development.
Ms Mumtaz Mughal congratulated the nation on the passing of Women’s Protection Bill and urged the youth to carry forward the message of nonviolence against women. Salman urged men to work for the cause of gender equality. Dr Ra’ana stressed the importance of gender sensitization for gender equality. Ms. Anosha explained the importance of SDGs and promoting gender equality through these goals by 2030.
The department also cut a cake to mark the Women’s Day. A large number of organizations and students set up stalls at the Women’s Day gala. There were stalls of jewelry, handicrafts, games and food etc. A large number of students, families and people from various walks of life visited the gala.
Meanwhile speaking at World Women’s Day event at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid said there was a need to acknowledge services of women at macro and micro level and boost up their efforts to be empowered for the real stability in social bonds.
The guest speaker Dr Atiya Syed emphasized that it was the need of the hour to channelizing thestruggles and hardworking of women to bring them into mainstream for progress and development.
Dr Neelum Naz and Dr Sabahat said women should be well equipped with modern education and deep observation about society as well.
Mrs. Alia Saleem said no nation could succeed without the active role of women. Dr Rehana, Dr Noreen Zafar, Samra Anjum, Ammara Farooq Malik, Sadia Khan and Sidra Gondal were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile in a statement on the eve of World Women’s Day, Insaf Students Federation (ISF) Punjab’s Girls Head Anum Haneef said women had always played an integral part in building up of societies.
lauded: Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital (PGMI/LGH) Principal Prof. Khalid Mahmood has said that women are an integral part of every walk of life and no society can prosper and develop without effective contribution by them.
Women are the mainstay of the medical profession whether they are doctors or nurses and they are serving ailing humanity selflessly with great dedication and devotion day and night. Nurses are the most important component of the staff of Lahore General Hospital and funds required for security and renovation of the nursing hostel would be provided on priority. He expressed theviews while presiding over a meeting in connection with reviewing security measures and other problems faced by resident nurses, according to a press release issued here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by LGHMSDr. Niaz, Principal Nursing School Raeesa Ishtiaq, Deputy Chief Nursing Superintendent Farhat Mahboob and other administrative doctors.
Prof Kahlid Mahmood also felicitated all women staff of the hospital on International Women Day and said that the devotion with which nurses served patients was matchless in our society. They even help patients who are considered a burden by their close relatives. He said that nurses must be provided with all basic needs including residences, meals, security and good working environment and the hospital administration was committed to ensuringall facilities at the nursing school of LGH.
handIcrafts: An organisation against poverty Tuesday marked the International Women’s Day by inviting women from all walks of life belonging to Christian, Hindu, Baha’i and Muslim faiths.
Women who are skilled and contributing towards economic generation by making the most of their talents were invited to display their handcrafted products at the event and participate in the dress designing, make-up and fresh flower arrangement competitions.
The celebration of the International Women’s Day was aimed at highlighting the pivotal role that women were playing in different sectors across the globe, especially in Pakistan. Munazza Arif, a television actor, was the chief guest at the event. The guest speakers and judges at the event included Sajid Ishaq, Chairman I-LAP, Ms Zainab Mahmood, Assistant Director, Directorate of General Intelligence & Investigation FBR, Ms Rawa Haider Zaidi, beauty expert Ms Aiman Mohkam, designer Ms Ayesha Tahir and Dr Hoyyam Karimian. Sajid Ishaq welcomed the guests and congratulated the winning participants. He highlighted the importance of International Women’s Day and applauded the role of women at the home front as well as in economic activities. He said the women population in Pakistan is 52pc and more than half the country is still unaware of their rights. He said the need of the hour is to educate women on their rights as well as their obligations to develop a healthy society. He said the government should have a special job quota for women in the government and public sectors to enhance women participation in all fields of life. Nazia Ansari while speaking on the occasion said: “Special days are celebrated for those whom we ignore, forget or disregard the whole year round. Women’s Day is one such day when once a year the whole world focuses their attention to the many endeavors of women and what they have achieved no matter how small it may be. Every woman is special, every woman has dreams and these dreams may be of happiness, of a loving life partner, a comfortable life, but most of all every woman dreams of being respected and appreciated.”
ceremony: The Sui Northern Executive Officers Association (SNEOA) organised a ceremony in connection with the International Women’s Day on Tuesday.
Amjad Latif, Managing Director, was the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the SNGPL believed in the policy of gender equality and provided equal opportunities to both men and women.
The Managing Director also appreciated the role of women employees in the SNGPL.
Miss Tabinda, Finance Officer, presented a book “SHOUQ-I-SIAHAT” to the Managing Director.
seminar: To mark the International Women's Day, a seminar was held at the Muslim League House under the chairmanship of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Women Wing Punjab Organiser Khadeeja Umar Farooqui and an organising meeting was also held which was fully participated by party women leaders and workers from all over the province.
Addressing the women's gathering, Khadeeja said process of the PML-Q reorganisation was in progress throughout the province on the direction of PML-Q leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi and this process should be completed at the earliest. She added that all the women should play their effective role in their respective areas for the completion of reorganisation process.
She said Chaudhry Brothers had given due respect and honour to women who were given proper representation everywhere including National and Provincial Assemblies and the Senate and if this had continued then the circumstances today would have been different.
Regarding the International Women's Day, she said Islam had determined the rights of the women, the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had accorded due respect and honour to women as mother, wife and sister, laws regarding women's rights were quite sensitive and these required proper consideration and consultation and implementation of laws about the women should be ensured then no more legislation would be required.
It was demanded at the seminar that separate women's courts be set up throughout the province and entire staff from the judge to medical staff should be women so that obstacles in provision of quick justice to women be removed.
Seminar was also addressed by MPA Basima Chaudhry, Majida Zaidi, former MPAs Sameena Khawar Hayat, Parveen Sikander Gill, Kanwal Naseem, Lubna Tariq, Razia Sultana, Nighat Rana, Azra Naseem, Shamim Akhtar, Begum Zubeida Ehsan Chaudhry, Rukhsana Mehr, Samia Tariq and Tabassum Naaz among others.
Sameena Khawar Hayat demanded that women's quota in government departments be increased to 20 percent from five per cent so that they could become economically prosperous.
Amna Ulfat said women had raised voice for their rights some 200 years ago and we were today observing the International Women Day in continuity.
Begum Zubeida Ehsan Chaudhry said women were given their rights during Ch Pervaiz Elahi tenure at their doorsteps.
Kanwal Naseem said Pakistani women had reservations about some provisions of law regarding the women's rights. It had been better if all the parties would have consulted prior to the legislation on the bill so ulema, religious and political parties must also be heard.
Parveen Sikander Gill said domestic violence was not just committed by men but women also indulged in violence against women, thus shattering the domestic peace. She suggested that political parties should give five percent quota to the women in the general election.
Lubna Tariq said women had taken active part in the Pakistan Movement from the PML platform and now they were playing their best role in building Pakistan.
Azra Naseem said rights and powers given to women by the PML-Q had now been snatched by the present government.
Fakhra Khan said division was taking place between men and women after the passage of the women's rights bill.
Nighat Rana said after the Women's Rights law, women's difficulties were increasing since relation between husband and wife was of love so if wife put a "Karra"(Ring) on her husband's hand then it would generate hatred in the heart of the man.