March 9, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 5, 1424

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QUETTA, March 8: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido), Aurat Foundation, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other organizations held seminars and other functions here on Saturday to mark the Women’s Day.

Balochistan Home Secretary Dr Badaruddin Aujan, speaking at a seminar organized by Unido, said positive relations should be established between women and men at all levels so that women could enjoy economic independence and social rights.

He said the provincial government would cooperate with the UN institutions for the development of women.

Unido official Dr Kalos Chandvi, Population Planning Director-General Mohammad Akhtar Khan and director, women studies, Balochistan University, Farkhanda Aurangzeb, also spoke.

The officer in charge of the UN Information Centre in the country read out the massage of the UN Secretary-General.

At a seminar arranged by Aurat Foundation, Balochistan Assembly member Robina Irfan urged women to continue their struggle for getting 33 per cent representation in the assemblies and the Senate. She said women’s development was essential for the country’s progress. She said a legal aid centre would be set up for needy women.

Sumira Jamal and Saima Javed of Aurat Foundation said all discriminative laws against women should be repealed and quota should be fixed for them in the government departments.

They stressed the participation of women in the political process.