PESHAWAR: Various programmes were organised in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in connection with the International Women's Day on Thursday
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) Peshawar organised two-day event to celebrate the day. On the first day, the students participated in different competitions such as sports, speeches, songs, photography, cooking and painting. Moreover, a parliamentary debate session was also arranged in collaboration with Centre for Awareness and Development (CATD) on the topic "Beauty Matters."
SBBWU Vice-Chancellor Professor Razia Sultana and Vice-Chancellor University of Swabi Dr Imtiaz Ali Khan were the chief guests while large number of students, parents and faculty members also participated in different activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Razia Sultana encouraged the students for active participation in every field of life. She asked the students to prepare for professions traditionally dominated by men.
She appreciated the role of Higher Education Commission (HEC) for providing 80 percent of the university budget. Dr Imtiaz Ali Khan also highlighted the role of women in society. He said that some parents were unhappy with birth of their baby girls but they should equally celebrate the birth of male or female child.
He encouraged female students to join any field they like and play an active role in the uplift of the country. The vice-chancellor distributed cheques among 20 students under the Prime Minister's Reimbursement Scheme and awarded the best performance certificates among faculty members.
The Gandhara Hindko Academy arranged a function to mark the International Women's Day. Professor Gulnaz Bano of the Jinnah College for Women, Peshawar, presided. Special guests were Rahmina Khursheed and Qudsia Qudsi. Women from various walks of life attended the function. The speakers stressed due rights for women in every sphere of life. It was stated that the Gandhara Hindko Board, which runs the academy, had arranged three women conferences and had brought out three issues of journal for women, "Fatima" so far.
The Directorate of Youth Affairs organised an event to commemorate the day. It was aimed at commemorating the movement for women's rights through a movie ''Mona Lisa Smile'' which was screened on the occasion. Young girls and women from various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated and watched the Movielogue. After the movie session, the forum was opened for discussion on the message imbedded in ''Mona Lisa Smile.''
In Chitral, speakers at an event expressed concern over the increasing incidents of women committing suicide and urged for bringing the reasons of the trend in Chitral. The Social Welfare Department in collaboration with Aga Khan Rural Support Programme had organised the event in connection with the International Women's Day.
MANSEHRA: Various programmes were arranged here to mark the day in the district. The lady doctors and other female staff of King Abdullah Teaching Hospital held a get-together with medial superintendent Dr Mohammad Javed Tanoli in the chair and raised problems faced by the women.
The Saibaan Development Organisation also organised a programme to mark the day. Deputy Commissioner Ayaz Khan, the District Social Welfare Officer Abdul Rasheed and managing director Sahibzada Javed Alfaizi highlighted issues faced by women at work.