KARACHI - Despite all oppression, woman is rising as a symbol of resistance as she is not only fighting for her own freedom but also for economic and political freedom of the oppressed classes of society.
It is the prime objective of the women’s movement to uproot every anti-women law and tradition. These views were expressed by women worker leaders addressing a rally arranged here by Home-based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) on the occasion of international women’s day on Tuesday. A large number of working women, female students and social activists attended the rally led by HBWWF general secretary Zehra Khan. Carrying flags, poster and banners, they chanted the slogan of “Peace, Bread and Equality”.
The rally started from the Fuwara Chowk and ended at the Arts Council. Later, women workers presented their cultural show in the Arts Council.
Addressing the rally, HBWWF general secretary Zehra Khan said violence against women has raised to an alarming level. She said as per an estimate more than 70 percent of women faced domestic violence. Zehra Khan said in educational institutions, the incidents of harassment and violence against female students and women employees had grown sharply.
Nuzhat Shireen from Sindh Commission on Status of Women said in this region the women were the most affected section of society due to wars and terrorism. Saeeda Khatoon of Ali Entereprise Factory Fire Affecttees Association, Saira Feroz of United Home Based Garment Workers Union, Kami Sid, Transgender Activist also spoke on the occasion.
The worker women rally and their cultural program demanded: Equal wages for equal work, rise in wages, ending gender-based disparity in wages, all workers including the home-based workers should be registered with social security and pension institutions, pre and post maternity leaves should be increased, women workers during child birth may be given fully paid leaves as per law, women workers should be protected against workplace harassment and as per law vigilance committees against harassment should be formed in all institutions, at workplaces where women workers are in majority, child care centers must be established, there should be maximum eight hours a day work, all discriminatory laws against women should be abolished, demolition of old settlements and labour colonies in the name of development should be stopped and violence against women, children and transgender should be declared a crime.
CM MESSAGE ON INT’L WOMEN’S DAY
Sindh Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that respect and honour of women was an integral part of socio-cultural and religious norms of the Pakistani society adding that the West can’t imagine the abundance of rights enjoyed by women in Islam.
In his message, the CM maintained that Almighty Allah has given tremendous respect and honour to the women in their different roles as mother, daughter or sister.
It is sanguine that the Pakistani woman is talented, hard-working and has proved her mettle in different spheres of life. Her role is praiseworthy and the dream of development could not be materialized without empowering the women community, he added.
The CM regretted that no positive step was adopted by the previous governments to include women in the development process and asserted that the incumbent government was committed to providing opportunities for women’s development. The PTI-led government has provided ample opportunities to women to move forward as it is a beneficial investment to develop an enlightened society by providing resources for women’s empowerment, he said.
The CM pointed out that the women quota in government jobs has been increased from 5% to 15% along with further age relaxation of three years. This day demands that every possible step should be taken to help include women in a development process along with their encouragement to excel in life, the CM concluded.
It is the prime objective of the women’s movement to uproot every anti-women law and tradition. These views were expressed by women worker leaders addressing a rally arranged here by Home-based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) on the occasion of international women’s day on Tuesday. A large number of working women, female students and social activists attended the rally led by HBWWF general secretary Zehra Khan. Carrying flags, poster and banners, they chanted the slogan of “Peace, Bread and Equality”.
The rally started from the Fuwara Chowk and ended at the Arts Council. Later, women workers presented their cultural show in the Arts Council.
Addressing the rally, HBWWF general secretary Zehra Khan said violence against women has raised to an alarming level. She said as per an estimate more than 70 percent of women faced domestic violence. Zehra Khan said in educational institutions, the incidents of harassment and violence against female students and women employees had grown sharply.
Nuzhat Shireen from Sindh Commission on Status of Women said in this region the women were the most affected section of society due to wars and terrorism. Saeeda Khatoon of Ali Entereprise Factory Fire Affecttees Association, Saira Feroz of United Home Based Garment Workers Union, Kami Sid, Transgender Activist also spoke on the occasion.
The worker women rally and their cultural program demanded: Equal wages for equal work, rise in wages, ending gender-based disparity in wages, all workers including the home-based workers should be registered with social security and pension institutions, pre and post maternity leaves should be increased, women workers during child birth may be given fully paid leaves as per law, women workers should be protected against workplace harassment and as per law vigilance committees against harassment should be formed in all institutions, at workplaces where women workers are in majority, child care centers must be established, there should be maximum eight hours a day work, all discriminatory laws against women should be abolished, demolition of old settlements and labour colonies in the name of development should be stopped and violence against women, children and transgender should be declared a crime.
CM MESSAGE ON INT’L WOMEN’S DAY
Sindh Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that respect and honour of women was an integral part of socio-cultural and religious norms of the Pakistani society adding that the West can’t imagine the abundance of rights enjoyed by women in Islam.
In his message, the CM maintained that Almighty Allah has given tremendous respect and honour to the women in their different roles as mother, daughter or sister.
It is sanguine that the Pakistani woman is talented, hard-working and has proved her mettle in different spheres of life. Her role is praiseworthy and the dream of development could not be materialized without empowering the women community, he added.
The CM regretted that no positive step was adopted by the previous governments to include women in the development process and asserted that the incumbent government was committed to providing opportunities for women’s development. The PTI-led government has provided ample opportunities to women to move forward as it is a beneficial investment to develop an enlightened society by providing resources for women’s empowerment, he said.
The CM pointed out that the women quota in government jobs has been increased from 5% to 15% along with further age relaxation of three years. This day demands that every possible step should be taken to help include women in a development process along with their encouragement to excel in life, the CM concluded.
