KARACHI, March 9: At a function held at the Arts Council on Saturday, women from different parts of Sindh, especially rural areas, expressed resolve to make concerted efforts to ameliorate their lot without waiting for help either from the government or from men.

In connection with the Women’s Day, the Karachi Women’s Peace Committee organized a programme at which women from Thar Parkar, Tando Kolachi, Khairpur, Larkana, Hala, Jacobabad, Mirpur Sakro and Hyderabad spoke about the discrimination women had to face in their areas. The Sindh minister for finance and development, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, presided over the function.

Hajiani Bibi from Tharparkar said a lack of medical facilities, particularly for women, was the greatest problem of her area. “The second most crucial issue is that of a shortage of water. The people of the area are forced to drink water that often contains water-borne diseases.”

Dr Zebunnisa Kolachi from Tando Kolachi said women of her area had focussed on literacy problem. “As a result of their efforts, female literacy ratio has improved a lot. Female literacy ratio in rural areas of Pakistan is 12 per cent, in Karachi 56 per cent, in Pakistan 35 per cent, but in Tando Kolachi it is 63 per cent.”

Shama Soomro from Khairpur demanded equal status for women. ”All over Pakistan, women face discrimination and torture. The situation is worse in the rural areas of the country. Even if they have skills, women are not allowed in rural areas to indulge in gainful activities lest they might become independent.”

She also demanded removal of impediments that a woman candidate had to leapfrog before obtaining loans from the First Women’s Bank.

Khatool Bibi from Hala said that despite the fact that women worked as much as men, they were never accorded the status in society they deserved. “Talented as they are, they are capable of working shoulder to shoulder with men.”

Parveen Bibi from Jacobabad said women in her area had taken part in local bodies elections. “The elected representatives of women — who belong to the same gender — are now expected to make efforts to better the lot of women.”

Zara Shaikh from Mirpur Sakro said women in her area were very good at embroidery. “Previously, they were unable to sell their embroidered clothes properly. Now, with the help of a non-governmental organization, they sell their products at reasonable prices and can earn at Rs4,000 a month.”

Rashida Khan from Hyderabad said her city was the largest producer of bangles in the country. “A bangle passes through as many as 52 phases during its production. A woman who makes 320 bangles is paid Rs1.75. It is important such disparities are removed.”

The chairwoman of Karachi Women’s Peace Committee, Nargis Rahman, thanked all participants for making such evocative speeches.

The Sindh minister for finance and development, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, said the reason why some countries were developed and some not was that the developed countries laid greater stress on their literacy and women improvement plans.

“In Sindh, female literacy ratio is four per cent. A woman dies in childbirth every 28 minutes. Women have to travel miles to get potable water. The government has taken some steps to improve the lot of women.”