TOBE TEK SINGH: Pakistani society is facing gender discrimination for which ensuring women’s rights and women empowerment is inevitable to make the socio-economic development.

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said at the celebrations in connection with the International Women’s Day at Iqbal Auditorium on Tuesday.

The UAF staged a rally, arranged a seminar, art exhibition and inter-hostel sports gala.

The VC said half of the population of the country consists of women. We cannot pave the way for development without gender mainstreaming. He said the university students consist of more than 50 per cent women and steps are also being taken to increase women’s participation at the faculty level.

He said the UAF launched a bicycle programme for women a decade ago to overcome the travel difficulties of female students. Now, we see women on bicycles across different areas of the city.

Government College Women’s University of Faisalabad VC Dr Rubina Farooq called for increasing the participation of women in professional fields.

She stressed the need for women’s increased participation in the mainstreaming of political, social and administrative affairs. She said that for a better society, it was necessary to ensure women’s education.

MPA Firdous Rai said ensuring women’s rights was one of the top priorities of the government for which all possible measures were being taken. The dream of national prosperity could not be materialised without the development of women.

Former MPA Najma Afzal said that in order to build self-confidence, women should participate more in all fields of life. She said development could be achieved only by providing equal opportunities for women.

Dr Attiya Awan said an empowered and educated woman could become the best mother and raise the generation in a better way that was a guarantee of a bright future. She said the purpose of celebrating women’s day was to pay homage to the role of women in the development of the country as well as to raise awareness about their rights. She said Islam gives the best rights to women. Unfortunately, we are not implementing the golden principle of Islam in our lives. There is a tendency in society to deprive women of their rights.

Dean of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said the best facilities were being provided to UAF students. He said without women’s participation, we could not compete with the rest of the world.

Progressive farmer Sapna Kavita said in villages, women were standing side by side with men in the agriculture sector.

Shazia George, Quratul Ain, Institute of Home Sciences Director Dr Ayesha Riaz, Associate Professor Dr Bushra Sadia and lecturer Hira Iftikhar also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2022