Observing Int’l Women’s Day aims at making country’s women self-reliant: First Lady Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain

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ISLAMABAD, March 08 (APP):First Lady Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said the objective of observing International Women’s Day is to make the country’s women self-reliant and provide them an effective status in the society.

Addressing at an event held here to mark the International Women’s Day by Red Crescent Women Forum, Begum Mehmooda said women in the country were enjoying protection of their rights besides their representation in parliament, quota in government jobs and legislation on protection against harassment at workplace.

Begum Mehmooda said Islam had provided unprecedented rights to women in the history of mankind. She said Islam does not differentiate between the rights of a man and a woman but suggests a certain balance between them to maintain an equilibrium in family and society.

She said besides their rights, the women also had certain responsibilities on them particularly ensuring best upbringing of their young generation. She encouraged women to also contribute their services in different professional fields to match their women contemporaries in the world.

Begum Mehmooda said women in the country had played a prominent role at many fronts from participation in Pakistan Movement to resistance against dictatorship and in the fields of education and sports.

She mentioned Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan and Begum Waqarun Nisa Noon and today’s shining examples of Malala Yousafzai, Arfa Karim, Samina Baig, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Hadiqa Bashir, Anousha Rehman and Shazia Parveen who proved themselves a pride for the country.

She lauded the activities of Red Crescent Women Forum, which she said would help the Pakistani women make achievements in different fields of life. Chairman Red Crescent Society Dr Saeed Ilahi also spoke on the occasion.

APP/Zub