Aurat Hunar Mela showcases women’s work

Islamabad : The 10th edition of 3-day long Aurat Hunar Mela (National Women-at-Work Festival) kicked off with showcasing women’s work, products and services at the Lok Virsa, Shakarparian, Islamabad.

The showcase also included an art exhibition by 13 women artists titled ‘Herself’. The ‘Aurat Hunar Mela’ (National Women-at-Work Festival) is an annual flagship event of Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) to mark the UN’s International Women’s Day that falls on March 8.

This year the 3-day event has been organised in collaboration with the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), Federal Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Over a dozen women artisans and women entrepreneurs put up their products ranging from clothing to food, and handicrafts. The women artists who put their artworks on display included Nigar Nazar, New York-based Nayyer Iqbal, Shahnaz Akram, Riffat Ara Baig, Saima Tahir, Saima Amir, Hatice Omar, Ambreen Anjum, Salvat Hijazi, Sabahat Amir, Beenish Azam, Shehla Moazzam, and Ambreen Bilal. The ambassador of Portugal Frederico Silva and the Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture Humaira Ahmed were the chief guests of the inauguration ceremony. The Executive Director Lok Virsa Muhammad Uzair Malik was the guest of honour.

The Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed briefed the audience about the event. The ambassador of Portugal Frederico Silva said Pakistan enjoys rich folk heritage where women have the backbone role in strengthening it. Women’s economic empowerment plays a pivotal role in the national economy. On the other hand, women’s aesthetics and creativity bring life to society.

Women have played significant roles in the world of art throughout history, although their contributions have often been overlooked or marginalised. Despite facing barriers such as gender discrimination, limited access to education, and societal expectations, women artists have made remarkable strides in shaping artistic movements, challenging conventions, and enriching cultural landscapes. Here are some key aspects of women's involvement in art. Women artists have produced a diverse array of artworks spanning various mediums, styles, and genres. From painting and sculpture to photography, performance art, and installation, women have used their creative talents to explore themes such as identity, gender, politics, and the human experience.

The Federal Secretary of Ministry of National Heritage and Culture Humaira Ahmed while highlighting the Women’s Role in cultural heritage said the government has been efficiently engaging marginalized women in the folk heritage promotion. They have been playing vital roles in preserving, transmitting, and revitalizing the rich tapestry of traditions that define our collective identity. Across the globe, women have been instrumental in safeguarding both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, ensuring its continuity and relevance in the face of evolving societal dynamics.

She said Women play multifaceted roles in society, contributing to its advancement and well-being in numerous ways. These roles encompass various spheres, including but not limited to family and household. Their education and empowerment ensures their participation in the workforce. From this year, Munir Ahmed said, Devcom-Pakistan also began to recognize, encourage and appreciate the corporate sector for their great work under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for women development.

The Devcom-Pakistan CSR Award for women development will include significant initiatives of the organizations in the corporate sector contributing to the women’s education, health and hygiene, food and nutrition, skills development, economic empowerment, and to ensuring the women friendly policies and practices with women’s internal engagement.

Speaking on the occasion, the Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed said: The 8 March is a significant UN day dedicated to ensuring women’s rights, empowerment and mainstreaming of their work. The celebration of the Day has played a key role in the global growth of women’s rights campaigns, participation in the political and economic arenas and empowerment movement. Theme of 2024 International Women’s Day is very close to the heart of Devcom-Pakistan, a non-profit voluntary organization, that has been promoting and mainstreaming marginalized women’s work since its inception in 2003.