March 9, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 24, 1422

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QUETTA, March 8: The provincial minister for women’s development and information technology, Roshan Khurshid Buracha, has urged all NGOs and civil societies to cooperate with the government in giving women their rightful status in the society.

“Women should join hands with men in the development of the country rather than criticize them,” Buracha said speaking at a seminar organized by the department of women’s development and social welfare on the eve of International Women’s Day, here on Friday.

The local bodies minister Mir Hussain Bukhsh Bangulzai, director social welfare Azizullah Ghilzai, Perven Magsi, Fouzia Shaheen and Gul Farzana also spoke on the occasion. A large number of women, including lady councilors, participated in the seminar.

She said that development and welfare of women, and provision of social and economic protection to them were government’s proprieties. The increase in women’s representation in the national and provincial assemblies was one such step in this direction.

The provincial minister said that the women in Balochistan were aware of their rights and responsibilities, and alongside their domestic responsibilities they were fully involved in the social and economic development of the country.

“Our elected lady councilors were playing an effective role in the district assemblies,” Buracha said adding that women would also play an effective role in the forthcoming general elections.

The provincial minister for local government Mir Hussian Bukhsh while speaking at the seminar said that the 33 per cent quota for women in the elected bodies would help resolve their problems.

The Aurat Foundation, Quetta, also held a seminar on the eve of the International Women’s Day. Furkhanda Aurangzeb, director women studies presided over the seminar, and regional coordinator Haroon Dawad and programme coordinator Saima Javed spoke on the occasion.

The participants of the seminar passed a resolution demanding that the Hudood laws be amended and all anomalies in the family laws be removed in view of the inquiry commission’s recommendations.