SHIKARPUR, Dec 7: A seminar on “Human rights of women” was held here on Wednesday. The seminar was organized by the Sindh women development department in collaboration with the district social welfare department under the project of Implementation of National Plan of Action for Women Development in Sindh. Sindh Women Development Minister Dr Saeeda Malik was the chief guest and District Nazim Mohammad Arif Mahar presided over the seminar.

Speaking at the seminar, DCO Shikarpur Khwaja Shafiq Ahmad, Prof Israr Ahmad Alavi, Iqbal Detho, secretary, Amnesty International Pakistan, Parveen Zahida, Najma Mangi, Shahida Memon, and National Plan of Action’s monitoring and evaluation in-charge Amreen Ansari highlighted objectives of the project.

They told the participants about root causes of violence against women. They also gave proposals for resolving problems faced by women and for protecting their legal, moral and Islamic rights.

The speakers called for setting up a women shelter, a women’s political school, a resource centre, a complaint centre and a women’s police station in the Shikarpur district like other districts of the province.

Dr Malik said the Sindh government had created a new department of women development to improve the quality of life of women.

She observed that women could play a vital role in making a healthy society and in development of the country.

She condemned honour killings and violence against women which she said was not only against the teachings of Islam but also illegal and immoral.

The minister stressed the need for providing education to women. She also called for eliminating poverty, discrimination, injustice and illiteracy.

The district nazim offered his cooperation in establishment of a women shelter, a complaint centre and a women’s resource centre in the district.

Meanwhile, the Sindh minister for women development said the Kalabagh dam was a political issue which was being propagated out of proportion. She said the issue could be resolved with consensus.

Talking to journalists at the district council hall on Wednesday, she said the Sindh government would not do anything against interests of the province and its people.