03 October 2004	Sunday	17 Shaban 1425

HARIPUR, Oct 2: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Senator Ms Mumtaz Shah has said that the district government system has provided a base for women development in the country but for sustainable development and improvement in their status, womenfolk needed to undertake concerted efforts.

She was speaking to the participants of an oath-taking ceremony of Women Councilors Forum, Haripur. Female councillors from various union councils, tehsil and district councils also attended the event.

Ms Shah eulogized the presence of women in all the tiers of district government, and underlined the need for inculcating a spirit of seeking guidance from Islamic teachings by the women representatives.

She said that the womenfolk must wage joint struggle for their politico-economic development in line with the Islamic teachings so that their status could be improved further, socially and economically.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive District Officer Community Development Dr Fazal Mehmood, said that the womenfolk could play their due role in the development and prosperity of country provided they were given opportunity and involved in this process.

He also appreciated the numerical contribution of women in the Community Citizen Boards and other non-governmental organizations.

Earlier, the senator administered oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of Woman Councillors Forum.