KARACHI, July 30: Speakers at a seminar, on Wednesday, paid rich tributes to Madar-i-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and recalled her role in creation of Pakistan and its building and progress.
The seminar titled “Life and services of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah”, was held under the auspices of Sindh Madressahtul Islam (SMI) at its auditorium to mark the year of Madar-i-Millat.
In her presidential address, Federal Education Minister Ms Zobaida Jalal said that above all her services and achievements, Ms Fatima Jinnah worked for the rights of womenfolk of the country in the wake of the then rigid Muslim society. She said that Mohtarma played her role as a guide for all women before and after the creation of Pakistan.
While quoting Ms Jinnah’s speech delivered in 1952 at Nanakwana, Karachi, the federal minister said that she emphasized on technical and vocational education for women with the objective to empower them economically, which would ultimately strengthen the country.
The minister said that the present reforms and policy of the government was basically a reflection of Ms Jinnah’s thoughts, which she had visualised in the year 1952. For poverty alleviation in the country, women must achieve vocational education, Ms Jalal said.
“We all have to work for our better life. Now, the period is over when a man was the only butter and bread earner,” she remarked.
She said that there was a tremendous talent in our women and their beautifully made handicrafts were a sign of their sophisticated work. The government was trying to shift the vocational education from district to tehsil level, so that more women could benefit from it, she added.
The minister called for visible role of teachers in nation- building and suggested that teachers should accumulate their experiences and transfer it to their students.
The provincial education minister, Irfanullah Marwat, said that society was deteriorating and education system had been losing its quality. That was why, he observed, our educational degrees were not being accepted abroad.
The provincial minister for women development, Dr Saeeda Malik, said that Madar-i-Millat played a crucial role in political awakening of women of the subcontinent during the pre- partition days.
Applauding her unparalleled services and succour, which she extended to her illustrious brother Quaid-i-Azam, the provincial minister said that she remained alongside her brother in all important meetings and proved to be great source of strength for him.
Addressing the female students of the school, Dr Saeeda called upon them to focus their attention on their studies by endeavour with utmost zeal and carve out a name for themselves in the education sector besides upholding glory of the country.
“Women in Pakistan are not lagging behind compared to their male counterpart and they have rendered invaluable services in their respective fields,” she added.
She claimed that the government had accorded unprecedented significance to womenfolk of the country by earmarking substantial seats for them in newly introduced local bodies system of governance and at provincial and national assemblies.
On the occasion, the minister informed that she along with Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mahar and other eminent figures of the province will visit the mausoleum of Fatima Jinnah and Quaid-i- Azam on July 31 (today).
Mr Ali Ahmed Brohi, Mr Syed Sarfraz Ahmed, and Ms Marium Farooqui, a close associate of Ms Jinnah also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, Sindh Madressah’s Principal, Muhammad Ali Shaikh said that the distinction of Ms Jinnah was not that she was only a sister of the Quaid, but she had played her political and social role side by side with the founder of Pakistan.
He said that Ms Jinnah’s contest for the presidential post in 1964 was a courageous step as it paved a way for democracy in the country. He also said that she enjoyed a great respect in both West Pakistan and East Pakistan.
Director Quaid-i-Azam Academy Khuwaja Razi Hyder said that Mohtarma remained with the Quaid for 19 years during the crucial period of Indo-Pak subcontinent.
Director General Rangers Maj Gen Salahuddin lauded the role of Sindh Madressahtul Islam in producing the leadership of national level. He hoped that the institute would keep producing students like Quaid-i-Azam and Ms Jinnah, who would serve the country.
Earlier, the federal education minister inaugurated the painting exhibition on the life and struggle of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, at the Fine Arts Gallery of SMI. Some 18 paintings, which were on display, reflected the journey of her life and struggle. A young artist Hafeez Qasmani created these paintings..—APP/PPI
