Int'l Women Day marked to highlight women's contribution in uplift, progress of society.

KARACHI -- Like in the rest of the world, International Women's Day was observed in Karachi on Wednesday to acclaim vital and vibrant role of women in the uplift and progress of society and to reiterate demands for providing women with a safe and equitable environment in every field of life.

Various social and political organisations, trade unions, universities and educational institutions organised special events, seminars and walks to mark the day in the metropolis in which participants underlined the importance of the role of women in all sections of society.

The day is observed on March 8 every year, since the year 1900. The purpose of celebrating the day is to ensure due empowerment, safeguard equal rights and dignified status, and maintain high respect, honour, and dignity of the womenfolk at par with the opposite gender in all segments of society.

As per details, a big rally of women workers was arranged by Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) led by their central General Secretary Zehra Khan. It marched from Fawara Chowk to the Arts Council of Pakistan.

The 'Mehnatkash Aurat Rally' was participated by hundreds of women workers belonging to different parts of Sindh who were carrying banners and placards inscribed with their slogans and demands for strict implementation of laws protecting women's rights, and fixing the minimum wage at Rs 50,000 per month.

Speakers at the rally said that women had played a leading role in economic, political and social fields in Pakistan and the history of democracy, economic, political and human rights struggle of the country would be incomplete without the names of Fatima Jinnah, Tahira Mazhar Ali, Comrade Shanta Bukhari, Mai Bakhtawar, Benazir Bhutto, Nusrat Bhutto, Kalsoom Nawaz, Naseem Wali Khan, Asima Jahangir and others.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Chair at the University of Karachi organised a seminar to mark International Women Day. Former chief minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah...