Call for giving women enabling environment

Islamabad : Women are very powerful and need to be given an environment where they can rise together and explore their skills. We must salute the women in our lives because each one of us is playing a very important part of society at large.

This was stated by First Lady Samina Arif Alvi during an International Women’s Day function held at the Serena Hotels here to honour women from all walks of life.

Women from Islamabad and Rawalpindi showed up in the event from the diplomatic community, international agencies, Serena associates, Serena Business Complex partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and friends of Serena.

The organisers greeted the guests under a clear blue sky as women enjoyed various quiz and pop up games, winning prizes from Serena. Musicians played soulful melodies while a beautiful cake was cut towards the end of the ceremony, re-iterating the celebration of Women’s Day.

The organisers said the objective of the International Women's Day was to celebrate the struggle for women's rights in the economic, social, political, and cultural domain, to reaffirm women's solidarity in the struggle for peace and to show what women have achieved.

They said the theme for IWD 2019 was 'balance for better', and acknowledged the growing global movement of advocacy, inclusion, and support surrounding gender parity, and encouraged people to continue the vocal fight for balance.

Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplaces Kashmala Tariq, who was also in attendance, advocated the women’s rights and said women were no less than men.

"It is our (women's) right to be provided with equal opportunities to come forward and do their part. We need a conducive environment to progress and rise. Let’s not be silent anymore and stand up for our rights," she said.