Rabia Ali

Karachi: Food, dance and music added colour to a frolic event organized in connection with International Women’s Day by the Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace (PWFP) at the Arts Council on Saturday.

A large number of women and children from different villages of Sindh participated in the day-long event which included a seminar and a cultural show.

Presided over by Nargis Rahman, President PWFP, the theme of the seminar was “Facilitating women to strength and independence”.

Speaking on the occasion, she highlighted the plight of the women living in rural areas and stressed the need for imparting them skills both in agricultural and industrial sectors in order to empower them.

Aisha, from Thardeep organization, portrayed a dismal picture of the condition of the village women, saying, men use to treat their women cruelly and even if the men become literate they don’t change their attitude towards women.

She said that the women have been suffering due to lack of education and medical facilities, adding: “A number of women die during delivery owing to absence of health facilities in their area”. When crimes against women such as Karo Kari were reported, the government does not take any action, and the women were left on the mercy of their adversaries, she said.

Tasneem Jaffar and Maliha spoke about their organization which provides clothes and sewing material to the women in rural areas, especially the flood-affected ones. “We use to provide “rillies” and helping them to sell them so that they can earn a living and support their families.” They urged other NGOs to come forward and adopt villages.

Representing the First Women Bank, Uzma Shah said that the aim of their institution is to empower women both socially and economically. Another official of the bank, Kauser, who is suffering from polio, said that she never made her physical handicap become a hurdle in professional life.

Naushaba from Shah Owais village in Sindh was delighted to take part in the event, saying, “This is the first time that I have come to the city, and am feeling happy”. She said she admires urban women for being educated and well mannered. She hoped that a school would soon open in her village so that the children could get education there. The seminar followed an entertaining cultural show .

Source: The News

Date:3/13/2011