January 21, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 20, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 20: The Sindh Minister for Women Development, Dr Saeeda Malik, urged the civil society to support the government in countering the feudalistic mindset among the people in general.

She was speaking at a seminar organized by the Rotary International (Karachi chapter) here on Friday.

The minister said that discrimination and violence against women was a global phenomenon, yet this could not be accepted as an excuse for the wrongs committed around, hence Pakistan offered constitutional guarantees, particularly Article-25, to ensure gender-based equality and equity.

The government being fully conscious that much more is required to be done has adopted several measures but these need to be supported by the society in general, she commented.

The minister was of the view that poverty was also one of the factors making things worse. The fact must be duly taken into account by members of the civil society, he stressed.

Mr Lynomar Brock, President, Rotary International chaired the programme. — APP