LAHORE: A day-long festival on the International Women’s Day attracted a good number of people at the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall on Sunday.

The festival titled ‘Aurat Aman Ki Safeer’ (Woman the Ambassador of Peace) was organised by the Lahore Arts Council in collaboration with Black Box Sounds.

The event had talks and discussions, a fabulous display of handicraft, an exhibition of photographs and a food court. The organisers had also arranged an open mic facility where students from different colleges and universities sang songs and recited poetry.

Begum Parveen Sarwar who was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony said: “Islam gives a lot of respect to women. Women multitask and without them no society can be a complete society.”

Moneeza Hashmi, chairperson Board of Governors, Lahore Arts Council, said holding the women festival on March 8 was her dream which had come true.

“We have gathered here to break the silence. It’s always been an important day for me. Much is needed to be done for women who are facing problems in getting education and on health and other fronts,” she said.

US Counsel General in Lahore Catherine Rodriguez also attended the festival.

Educationist Arifa Syeda threw light on the importance of the day.

At a session titled, “Blurring the Boundaries: Women Role in Peace Building through Political Harmony,” parliamentarian Shamsa Ali said women should know their rights and role in society.

MPA Bushra Anjum Butt said women sitting in assemblies always raise voice for the rights of women.

MPA Sadia Suhail said she always raised voice on the issues of women not considering the party line.

At another session titled, “Promoting Tolerance Through Media”, Navid Shahzad said the State had not supported cinema which is a major part of the media. She said the pre-partition cinema showed women as myopic -- either too pious or a society girl. She said Lahore had a big industry before the Partition which rivalled the subcontinental cinema.

Simi Raheel said the media had become business at a time when the fifth generation warfare was on. “Good writers are there but what is being shown on the media is something which should be called promotion of torment.”

Writer Amna Mufti said society was becoming sadist and the media could play a role in minimising this sadism. People had become immune seeing violence. For high rating, she said, such scenes in which women are slapped are shown. And in some scenes women are slapped for more than once to get more rating.

Samia Mumtaz said consumerism had crept in the media which otherwise could play an effective role in changing attitudes.

Yet at another session, “Promoting the Culture of Tolerance Through Dailogue”, Rachel Hassan said the country had an image in the outer world brimmed with intolerance and there was a need to improve this image.

A teacher, Rukhsana, said tolerance was gradually decreasing in society.

The exhibition “In the Present Lies the Past, Feminist Excavations” put on display by Asar Resource Center had photographs on women movement.

First Lady Samina Alvi was present at Azad Theater’s play on women empowerment.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2020