7th March 2019: United Nations is celebrating women’s day since 1975 every year on 8th March. On this occasion, President Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS), Senator Sehar Kamran (TI) paid special homage to the tireless efforts and contributions of women in their struggle against gender discrimination around the world. She said “ We as women’s should celebrate this day with an aim to achieve gender equality and raise our voices to be heard as the proponents of peace both at national and global level”. She was highly confident and ambitious that today’s women are capable and aptly qualified to participate in the corporate, social, political and development sector to help our nation achieve dream goals of sustainable economic prosperity.
Our Founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said so clairvoyantly, “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you”. This is perhaps the most apt description of the role of women in nation building and development of a country. Women in Pakistan form approximately 50% of the population. To ensure their effective role in the society women must be granted greater access to quality education at all levels, as education is undoubtedly the surest path to women empowerment, and our collective progress.
Senator Sehar emphasized that contributions of women in nation building must be encouraged and recognised; as it is essential to realize equality and make them feel proud of their achievements. This is the only way to counter existing socio-cultural barriers of our society. Ensuring equal rights and status for women in the society is a two way responsibility i.e. both at the state and societal level. Governments alone cannot execute this task, society as a whole has to recognise this need and accept this reality.
Senator Sehar further added that celebration of women’s day globally is recognition of women role in modern progressive society not only as mothers, daughter’s and wives but also as entrepreneurs, community leaders and productive participants of the human society. As young women of vision, she was of the view that we still have to cover a long journey to ensure non discriminatory world for our women. She encouraged the young girls to continue their journey with passion as the day is not far when women will stand with their highest esteem and dignity in the human struggle for a better world.