DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 27: Inaugural ceremony of Resources Centre of Aurat Foundation (AF), was held at district auditorium here on Tuesday.

The function was presided over by Hashmat Nawaz Khan Saddozai, president of the district bar whereas Aftab Ahmad Khan, coordinator of the Aurat Foundation of NWFP, was the chief guest.

Briefing on the occasion, Syed Aamir Zaidi advocate, district coordinator of Sojhla Forum said that women were important segment of our society but had been ignored in the past and fundamentalism was the main hurdle which blocked the entry of women in our national affairs.

He said the AF was the first NGO established in 1986 that took the matter as a challenge and now 70 recourse centres of AF throughout the country were providing all  the  available assistance to our women. He said the activities of these centres were mainly aimed at providing guidelines to the 36,089 elected women councillors enabling them to participate practically in welfare of the society, specially their own community.

In his speech, Aftab Ahmad Khan said the AF was the first NGO of its nature, which was providing legal assistance to the elected public representatives. He said this NGO was trying to bridge the gap between the women section and the government institutions. He said the AF had provided the neglected section of our society a platform to participate in nation-building process and also to bring forward their problems and issues before the government, which could be considered during the process of legislation.

said that 70 resource centres were watching the legislation process to protect women rights and were directly involved in social, political and economical development process.

He hoped that newly-established resource centre at Dera Ismail Khan would also provide all the necessary assistance  and cooperation to women councillors and others for the development of women.