HYDERABAD, June 8: Sindh Minister for Education, Literacy and Criminal Prosecution Service Pir Mazharul Haq has said that Islam guarantees equal rights to women but the society is not prepared to abide by this golden principle and men considered it their right to impose their authority in every field of endeavour.

He was speaking at a cultural fair held under the aegis of the media cell of the provincial directorate for women development at Mehran Arts Council here on Sunday.Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto inaugurated the fair.

Mr Haq said that women were working shoulder to shoulder with men in farms in rural areas as well as in cities and they were in no way less hard working than their male counterparts.

He recalled that Ms Benazir Bhutto due to the backwardness and worse social conditions of women had established the Women Development Department to ensure maximum rights to women.

He said the present government had decided to evolve a comprehensive strategy for the development and welfare of women.

He announced that henceforth government lands will be allotted to women so that they could stand on their own feet.

Ms Fatima said that her ministry would soon construct women rural complex and added that the development of women and grant of equal rights to them including right to education and other skills was essential for the restoration of real democracy in the country.

She announced that cultural fairs for women will also be organised in other towns and added that women will be trained in different skills and their products will be introduced in the international market.

Sindh Minister for Social Welfare Nargis N.D. Khan said that women will be provided loans by her department on easy instalments to start their own business which will go a long way in improving their social and economic conditions.