ISLAMABAD, March 8: The International Women’s Day was observed worldwide on Sunday to raise awareness against gender bias and take action for equality.
This year’s theme of the Day is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.
The main event was Aurat Azadi March 2020 in all the major cities across the country in Pakistan.
In Islamabad the day was marked with rallies and a day-long programme featuring traditional food by women entrepreneurs, folk music and dance, artisans’ stalls, display of paintings by students and a seminar on women rights and law in Pakistan at the Lok Virsa.
Rallies were also be held in Karachi and Lahore at different locations.
The Aurat Azadi March 2020 was started at 3pm outside Islamabad press Club while in Lahore the participants gathered at Lahore Press Club.
In Karachi, the main event is scheduled to be held at Frere Hall in the evening.
Radio Pakistan’s News and Current Affairs Channel ran special transmission to mark the International Women’s Day.
During the special programmes, achievements of Pakistani women in various fields were highlighted.
The channel also highlighted the government’s efforts and steps for women empowerment in its various programs being aired simultaneously from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
A two-hour special programme was aired after 1800 hours bulletin wherein prominent women belonging to various fields participated as guests.
President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in their separate messages on the Women’s Day have called for ensuring to provide equal opportunities to women in all fields.
The President in his message emphasized to ensure equal opportunities for women in education, health and jobs, besides ensuring their rights of inheritance, safety in all spaces, and no harassment or violence.
The Prime Minister in his message to the nation reaffirmed his pledge to take all measures that would help the women to lead a safe, secure and prosperous life.
He said inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development could only be ensured by providing equal opportunities and conducive environment to women.
In her statement for International Women’s Day, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted 2020 as the year for gender equality and calls on everyone to tackle the persistent barriers against gender equality.
We don’t have an equal world at the moment and women are angry and concerned about the future, she said. They are radically impatient for change. It’s an impatience that runs deep, and it has been brewing for years. – NNI
