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University of the Punjab

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Women empowerment a must for national development: speakers
Women empowerment a must for national development: speakers


LAHORE: (Monday, March 8, 2021): Speakers of an international conference have stressed the need to empower and education women as women’s role in all segments of society was essential for the development of Pakistan. They were addressing two-day international conference “Contemporary Gender Issues: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by Punjab University Department of Gender Studies at Al Raazi Hall here on Monday in connection with the International Women’s Day. Sarwar Foundation Vice Chairperson Begum Parveen Sarwar, Justice (r) Nasira Javed Iqbal, PU Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Chairperson Punjab Women Protection Authority Kaneez Fatima, Ministry of Human Rights Director General Muhammad Ali Khan, Dean Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences Prof Dr Umbreen Javed, Chairperson Department of Gender Studies Prof Dr Ra’ana Malik, faculty members and students participated in the event. Addressing the conference, Mrs Parveen Sarwar said that women were progressing in all the fields in Pakistan. She said that the most gold medals in education were grabbed by female students which reflected their potential in the field of education. She said that women gave respect and love to the society. She said that Pakistani men were also encouraging women for their prosperity. She said that we must give time to the women to adjust in another environment after marriage. She said that through Hunar Gah Centres in Punjab, more than twenty thousand women had been provided training in dress stitching. She said that it was not the story of Pakistan only where we get our rights after difficulties. She said that she and her family faced life threats when they started to struggle for the rights of the Muslims in the United Kingdom. She said that we must provide a safe environment to our women. Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar said that giving respect and honor to the women was a part of our culture. He said that a home could not be a home without a woman. He said that women were coming forward in our society in all fields on merit. Justice (r) Nasira Javed Iqbal said everyday of the year belonged to the women as the world was incomplete without them. She said that educated and skilled women could polish the whole society. She said that the women in Pakistan had progressed in all the fields. She said that the first woman prime minister of the Muslim world also belonged to Pakistan. She said that if all the girls were educated, Pakistan could rapidly progress in the world. She said that the women would play their role in the development of Pakistan as they did for the establishment of the country. She said that corruption was No 1 problem of Pakistan. She said that women were an emblem of justice, purity and hope. She said that educated and wise women must be given share in decision making. Mrs Kaneez Fatma said that Islam for the first time gave rights to the women and empowered them. She said that those societies progressed that gave respect to the women. She urged the students to play their role for creating awareness among women regarding their rights. DG Muhammad Ali Khan said that Constitution and Law provided rights and protection to the women. He said that there had been a 52 percent reduction in acid-throwing incidents on the women. Prof Dr Raana Malik said that PU Department of Gender Studies was playing its role to eliminate gender-based violence and creating awareness on gender related issues. She said that the international conference had been organized to provide a platform to learn from each other’s experiences to resolve gender-based issues.