LAHORE - The Women’s Day was observed yesterday with number of seminars, conferences and thought provoking sessions in the Punjab capital, having participation from people belonging to all walks of life.
Members of the civil society, university students, working women, NGOs and political parties also took out rallies in different areas of Lahore and vowed to continue struggle for the protection of females’ rights.
The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust in collaboration with the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust organised a seminar titled “The Women’s Role in the Progress and Stability of Pakistan” at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehreek-e-Pakistan.
Begum Surrayya Khurshid chaired the sitting while the speakers included Justice (r) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Begum Mehnaz Rafi, Umm-i-Laila, Dr Parveen Khan, Dr Rubina Anjum, Begum Safia Ishaq, Arifa Subha Khan and Nimra Salim.
They said women played a prominent role in the Pakistan Movement under the patronage of the Quaid-i-Azam and Madar-i-Millat. “Pakistan will scale new heights of progress if we succeed in imparting good education to our women who constitute more than the half of our population.”
A rally was organised by All Pakistan Workers Confederation which started from Nisbet Road and concluded at Lakhsami Chowk. The women labourers while participating in the rally demanded equality in employment opportunities and wages without any discrimination.
The Working Women Organization organised a seminar at WWO office to mark the Women’s Day. A good number of women from different walks of life attended the seminar. WWO executive director and All Pakistan Trade Union Federation general secretary Aima Mahmood, speaking on the occasion, congratulated the Punjab government and legislature on passing women protection bill.
She said it was the long struggle of civil society which brought fruit in the form of women bill in biggest province of the country. She also urged the federal government and other provinces to introduce these kinds of laws in their domain to protect the rights of women.
Ms Mahmood vowed to continue struggle for the women rights in Pakistan. “No nation can achieve the goal of development without providing basis rights to the neglected segment of the society,” she added.
The Punjab University Department of Gender Studies also observed the day with a seminar at its auditorium and colourful gala at its lawns.
Addressing the seminar, Prof Dr Zakria Zakir said that the Pakistani society could not progress without input from women. He said that women must come forward and play their role for national and social development. He emphasised importance of the celebrating Women’s Day as it showed the commitment towards the cause of ensuring women’s rights.
The speakers congratulated the nation on the passing of Women’s Protection Bill and urged the youth to carry forward the message of violence against women.
Activists and students also set up stalls at the Women’s Day gala. There were stalls of jewellery, handicrafts, handmade items, games, food and others. A large majority of students, their families and people from various walks of life visited the gala.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a statement said that the Women’s Day aimed at celebrating the progress made in the ongoing fight for gender equality. And as part of its 25th Anniversary, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with members, partners and friends reflected on the last 25 years of the promotion and protection of human and women’s rights.
“Only through movements of women and human rights defenders have we ever, and will we ever make true and lasting change for women in Asia,” the statement added.
On the day, the Women’s Action Forum repeated its demand for robust measures to end impunity for violence against women, and to support women survivors of violence. The WAF, in a statement, congratulated the women parliamentarians and their colleagues in the Punjab Assembly for taking note of the insufficient protection afforded to women survivors and pushing for legislation in this regard.
In connection with the day, the Well Women Clinic - under the aegis of “My health Program” - was launched at Fatima Memorial Hospital. The program was launched to make women understand the importance of their health status and the role it plays in their future.
The program offers a variety of packages suited to the needs and requirements with the convenience of testing and consultation under one roof.
PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, PTI, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (AWT) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) held separate seminars and ceremonies in connection with the International Women Day.