KARACHI: Lifetime achievement awards were conferred on a number of women activists, writers and artists at a programme held on Tuesday to mark National Women’s Day.

Many civil society activists and government officials participated in the event organised by the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW).

The event titled ‘Women’s Resistance against Discrimination’ also featured insightful speeches as well as women entrepreneurs showcasing products of their small-scale businesses, including homemade food.

Speaking at the programme, Aisha Mukhtar, deputy country representative of UN Women Pakistan, congratulated the commission on putting together an impressive event to commemorate the resilience and sacrifices of women.

“These activists continued their struggle and raised voice for women’s rights so vehemently that it eventually echoed through the corridors of power, resulting in the promulgation of several pro-women laws and amendments in many discriminatory laws.

“Passing of laws against domestic violence and workplace harassment were great milestones which were achieved by the selfless struggle of Pakistani women in social and political spheres,” she said.

Ms Mukhtar urged women to continue this struggle with more passion and revived commitment as violations of basic rights were rampant in society.

Highlighting UN Women’s work in Pakistan, she said that the organisation was collaborating with the commission on gender equality to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 pertaining to ending all kinds of discrimination against women and girls.

The lifetime achievement awards were presented to retired justice Majida Rizvi, Dr Masuma Hasan, Mai Jindo, Haroon-un-Nisa Palijo, Zubeida Mustafa, Sheen Farrukh, Begum Shahnawaz Wazir Ali, Kishwar Zehra, Noorul Huda Shah, Anis Haroon, Hilda Saeed, Sheema Kermani, Sakina Samo and Dr Tahira Aftab.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2019