KARACHI, March 7: The city, with the world, will observe the Women’s Day on Friday.

In this connection, various programmes will be held throughout the city where speakers and participants will highlight the role women play in the betterment of society. They will also shed light on the struggle women have had to wage to obtain their rights.

The programmes will be organized by the provincial government as well as various non-governmental organizations.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, Panah Trust, Shirkatgah, Women’s Action Forum, Working Women Association and Interflow Public Service Division will jointly organize a Mushaira followed by a musical programme on Friday at the Hindu Gymkhana at 4.30pm.

The directorate of social welfare and women development, in collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Lawyers Association, will hold a seminar on Friday in the Finance and Trade Centre auditorium.

A gathering will be organized by Amnesty International, HRCP, Piler, YWCA, Idara-i-Amn-o-Insaf, WAR, Aurat Foundation, Hands, PAWLA, Takhleeq Foundation, Pakistan Garments and Hosiery Association, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, National Art Workshop and National Art Organization on Friday at 4pm in front of the Karachi Press Club on the subject of “Repeal of all discriminatory laws against women”.

Two street plays will be staged there on the same theme.

Nasir Aslam Zahid, retired justice, and Dr Habiba Hasan will speak on “Discrimination committed against women in the law”.

The Media Women Publishers and Journalists Organization will hold a conference titled “Role of women in media: past, present and future.” Federal minister for law Shahida Jamil will be chief guest.

The Karachi’s Women Peace Committee will hold a programme titled “The women of Sindh” at the Arts Council. The programme will comprise five parts: stalls display, the songs of Sindh, seminar, the dances of Sindh and screening of Iranian movie “Sara”.

The British Council, in collaboration with the Human Rights Education Program, is organizing a poster exhibition, adds PPI.

The exhibition, titled “women@work”, shows a wide range of work women are doing successfully in different leading fields. The 72 posters on display show women at work in non-traditional areas — as engineers, judges, taxi-drivers, etc.

The exhibition will continue till March 22.

The Pakistan Press Foundation will organize a seminar for journalists on “The media’s role in promotion of gender equality” on March 12 at the PPF-Vicky Zeitlin media library auditorium.

Wajihuddin Ahmad, retired Supreme Court judge, Rashida Patel, president of the Pakistan Women’s Lawyers Association, Anis Haroon, provincial chief of Aurat Foundation, Zohra Yousuf, council member of the HRCP, and Mehnaz Rehman of the Aga Khan Institute of Educational Development will speak.