KARACHI, March 7: A series of programmes have been organized by the government and non-governmental organizations in connection with the International Women’s Day being observed on Saturday. Like other cities of the world, Karachi also would be hosting seminars, workshops, walks, conferences and other events.

A number of NGOs working for the restoration of women’s rights have organized programmes to highlight the issues confronting women in urban and rural areas of the country and the problems faced by the women world over. The discussions and debates are aimed at creating awareness in masses on the women’s role in society and finding ways and means to provide maximum relief to the weaker section by ensuring restoration of its due rights.

March 8 recalls the day when in 1907 hundreds of working women, for the first time, observed strike in New York in support of their demand for equality with the masculine gender. Their rallies were suppressed by use of force and the participants were baton-charged. Another women rally, held the next year, to demand end to child labour received a similar treatment. March 8 continued to be observed as the day protest and struggle for the women’s rights till 1970 when the UN declared it as International Women’s Day.