06 February 2004	Friday	14 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah had done a lot to highlight women's contribution in the development of Pakistani society.

This has been said in a pamphlet titled 'Fatima Jinnah on Technical Education', edited by eminent writer Dr Riaz Ahmad. In this pamphlet, the author has covered the period from 1948 to 1962.

According to Dr Riaz Ahmed, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah devoted at least 14 speeches to the cause of the establishment of women's industrial homes and institutions and setting up of polytechnical institute to enable girls to work for self-development on a self- help basis.

Dr Riaz has mentioned inauguration of the Muslim Women Industrial Home in Karachi in February 1948 in which Ms Jinnah said in this industrial home, widows would be provided training in different arts and craft, including sewing and embroidery, so that they could earn honourably.

The compiler mentions the address by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah at the prize distribution ceremony organized by the Muslim Ladies Technical Industrial Institute on August 1949.

In her address, Fatima Jinnah strongly urged the women to come forward to acquire education and to work for physical and moral uplift which she considered very "essential for social development of the society as a whole".