PESHAWAR, March 25: NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said that gone are the days when women were restricted to the four-walls of their house. Now they are free to get education and play their part in the nation-building process.

Addressing the 17th convocation of the Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar, here on Thursday, he said that women occupied a pivotal position in any family and played a dominant role in the lives of men and of nations.

Because of such a multi-faceted role as a mother, wife, daughter and sister, her influence is so dominant and paramount that it required proper equations which, he remarked, "is the only way to acquit herself in these roles with grace and dignity."

All the barriers, taboos and restrictions, which have been obstructing women from taking part in the national development are fading away slowly because of the role of the educated womenfolk. But the battle, the governor said, "has just begun and we shall have a long way to go."

Unless concrete steps for the economic emancipation of women were taken, all endeavours to enable the womenfolk to acquire their rights and play their due role will not go beyond wishful thinking, he remarked.

Vice-Chancellor of University of Peshawar and principal of Jinnah College also spoke. Earlier the governor gave away BA and BSc degrees and gold medals to the graduates of sessions 2000 to 2003. Ms Saadia Farooq, Ayesha Siddiqa and Bibi Fatima received gold medals for their brilliant performances during the respective sessions.