January 16, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 15, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 15: The International Federation of Business and Professional Women President, Dr Chonchanok Viravan, has called for concerted efforts to promote leadership potential among womenfolk from grassroots level to upper echelons across the globe. She was speaking at Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra Conference and award giving ceremony organized by Pakistan Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Organization on Sunday.

The first Asian woman holding the coveted post of International President of the Federation minced no words in mentioning that while it was an honour to hold a position it was all the more significant to deliver and be remembered.

Hence, Dr Chonchanok said that federations of business and professional women working in different parts of the world were committed to contribute towards maximum involvement of women in decision making process.

One of the major aims of the federation, she said, was to help women develop and maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives.

“I personally believe that being honoured for holding a position is important but being remembered for one’s virtue is much more significant,” she said while paying tribute to Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra, the first woman to accept Islam and the wife of Holy Prophet (PBUH) known for her conviction, acumen and piety.

She also felicitated the recipients of Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra Award, including Dr Saeeda Malik, Mehtab Akbar Rashidi, Khushbakht Shujaat, Dr Salma Sarfaraz and Begum Sajida Zulfiqar Ali Khan.

Begum Salima Rais Ahmed of the Pakistan Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Organization, expressing her gratitude to the chief guest Dr Chonchanok Viravan for accepting the invitation, said that the well-known activist from Thailand had carved a niche for herself in the field of women development which enabled her to be the first Asian origin president of the international federation.

Begum Ahmed also discussed the contribution made by the federation for the development of women and children in Pakistan. She particularly referred to the working women hostel being run by the federation in Karachi, which had only recently been renovated but required to be expanded.

“We are in process of establishing working women hostel in Hyderabad as well,” she said adding that schools imparting high quality education to children from the lowest socio-economic circle of the society are already operational in urban slums of Karachi and Hyderabad.

Prof Mrs Aftab Masroor from Women College of Quetta and Sana Rehman, a volunteer representing Al-Rehman and Al-Rahim, presented their respective presentations on Hazrat Khadijatul Kubra.

Delegates from Lahore, Quetta, Hyderabad and Islamabad also attended the programme.—APP