LAHORE: The Punjab Commission for Status of Women (PCSW) held a ceremony of a network for young women leaders at the Alhamra Arts Council on Monday.

The network was established under the PCSW’s project of ‘Generating Data to Advance Women’s Social and Economic Wellbeing in Pakistan’.

Minister for Women’s Development Hameeda Waheeduddin inaugurated the three-day programme where female students from Punjab will be selected for awareness raising in their communities.

PCSW Chairperson Fauzia Viqar said 60 percent of the Pakistanis were under 29 years of age. “No nation can rise if the women are not working actively. In fact, if women are forcefully confined, and not made part of decision making, it’s a crime against humanity,” she said.

Dr Shehla Javed Akram, founder president of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the dropout rate of children of working women was less as compared to women who stay at home, as per a survey by her chamber.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from various government and non-government organisations, academia and civil society.

An interactive theatrical performance on gender-based violence was presented by the Interactive Resource Centre.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2018