Seminar on Women Emancipation

Speakers at a seminar on Thursday said Pakistan had become the least gender equitable country in the Asia Pacific as per report of World Economic Forum. Keeping the situation in view, it is must to empowering the women, giving them equal rights and their participation in socio-economic activities. The seminar titled Women Emancipation was organized by Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Department of Entomology and the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the empowerment of the women was vital to achieve the dream of development. The women constitute 51 percent of the total population. We could not progress without involving them in social and economic life and bringing them into mainstream. The women are standing shoulder to shoulder to the men in the socio economic activities in the modern era. Talking about the UAF initiatives, he said that the University was making all-out efforts to provide the modern facilities to the women. The women faculty members are 150 compared to 35 four years ago. The gender ratio in the postgraduate programs is 47 women to 53 men. The Day Care Centre, Women Complex comprising four hostels with state-of-the-art residential and sports facilities, Career Development Centre and working women hostel had been added. Dr Mahrukh Saeed from University of Auckland, New Zealand, said that women play a vital role in the society. In Pakistan, stepped up efforts are needed to ensure the women emancipation. She said that lack of freedom for the women in the decision making was the hurdle for progress. She said half of the population consists of women. She urged the participants to raise the awareness among the masses about importance of women empowerment. Dr Rehana Qureshi from Department of Social Sciences said women were the great asset for the society. They are playing an intensive role model not only as a house keeper but also as the working force in all aspects of life. She said that the Islam attaches great importance to women and provide them excellent rights. Dr Farah Riaz from the Institute of Rural Development briefed the women about the leadership qualities. She said that the women need to explore their inbuilt leadership qualities. Dr Fatima Mustafa said that women empowerment would also the poverty alleviation from the society. She said that the emancipation leads to equality of socioeconomic, political and legal rights.