KARACHI: Lady Abdullah Haroon said here yesterday that Pakistani women were more advanced and hardworking than those of some of the advanced countries of the world.

Presiding over the second plenary session of the Fourth Triennial Conference of the All-Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) at the College of Home Economics yesterday morning, she said she was glad that the women of this country were working hard for the progress of the nation.

Begum Habib Rahimtoola, National Executive Chairman of APWA, in a vote of thanks paid tributes to the services rendered by Lady Haroon to the cause of the association.

She hoped that Lady Haroon would continue to take the same interest in the association as she had done in the past. The role of women in raising the standard of living and their general contribution to the welfare of the nation were spotlighted yesterday by a host of speakers at the conference.

The season was addressed, among others, by National Council of Social Welfare Director Akbar Kabir and Labour Commissioner Khawaja S. Mahmud. Other speakers included APWA Chairman (West Pakistan) Begum Fida Hasan, Directorate of Social Welfare’s A.U. Akhtar, Senior Vice-Chairman of APWA Karachi Begum Anwar Hidayatullah.

Mr Kabir cited different measures taken by the government directed towards the greater participation of women in the socio-economic development of the country.