PESHAWAR, March 9: Speakers at the Annual Day celebration of the Khyber Medical College on Tuesday said equal opportunities for men and women were necessary for the development of any country.

Peshawar University Social Work Department Chairperson Dr Sarah Safdar said in every society only those men made progress who enjoyed the support of the women.

She said the importance of women in social development could not be set aside and they should be provided ample opportunities to play their role. Referring to the economic and governance crises in most parts of the world, she said both men and women had equal responsibility to resolve those and they should adopt collective steps against social evils.

She highlighted the problems confronted by women, particularly in the remote areas of the province. She told the girl students that after graduation they were supposed not only to provide health facilities to the women but also educate them so that they could properly bring up their children.

She said girls had the right to get education and play their role in social development. She demanded the establishment of more women's educational institutions in remote areas of the province so that the standard of living of women there could be broughtat par with those in the big cities.

The college's principal, Dr Khalid Mufti, asked medical students to participate in extra curricular activities, particularly those related to human rights. He said women should be provided equal opportunities.

He underlined the importance of the Women's Day and asked social watchdogs to work for creating awareness regarding women's rights. He said economic development would be very difficult unless women were involved in all departments.