KARAK, March 8: No society can develop and prosper unless and until oppressive practices against women are put to an end.

This message was handed down by speakers at a ceremony jointly organised here on Thursday by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and Khwendo Kor to mark the International Women’s Day.

“We have to take practical steps for bringing positive and pleasant changes in the lives of women,” said Karak district nazim Rehmat Salam Khattak.

He said women in his districts were deprived of most of their rights.

He called for ensuring right to inheritance for women “which is binding under Shariah.” For the purpose, he said, social attitudes needed to be transformed in line with the Islamic teachings.

“The woman plays a crucial role in the development of society, and she should be given all her rights,” he said.

NCHD’s district general manager Usman Yaqoob informed the participants of the ceremony that the commission had taken various steps for the welfare of women. He said 350 adult literacy centres (ALC) had been opened in district Karak this year to educate women from 15 to 45 years of age.

“An educated mother can change the destiny of the whole family,” he emphasised.

He said the NCHD had also launched a basic health programme for mother and child care in the district.

An Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) campaign aimed at bringing up a healthy generation was also launched, said Mr Yaqoob, adding that the campaign was covering 77,000 households.

“Our society cannot turn into a real Islamic society unless women are given their due rights,” he said. “Islam is the only religion that guarantees all basic rights to women and gives them a dignified position in society.”

Highlighting the importance of the day, Khwendo Kor district manager Naeemur Rasheed Khatak said the purpose of the ceremony was to mobilise all stakeholders in society to work for guaranteeing women their due rights.

He said Hazrat Khadija had sent the matrimonial proposal to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) “which clearly manifests that women have the right to marry in line with her wishes”. However today, women had been deprived of this fundamental right, he regretted.

District naib nazim Jan Alam advocate appreciated the efforts of the NCHD and its district general manager for taking steps for the welfare of women and announced his all-out support to the commission and the Khwendo Kor in this regard.

“Denial of women’s rights shows the ignorance of people about the teachings of Islam,” he said. UC nazims Maulana Saleemullah and Noor Islam as well as district khateeb Makael Khan also spoke on the occasion.