KARACHI: The fourth Women’s Conference was on Friday opened at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi.

The event began with a drum circle performance by the council’s music and dance academy.

Women Development Minister Syeda Shehla Raza, Arts Council president Ahmed Shah, Anis Haroon, Noor Ul Huda Shah, Qudsia Akbar, Dr Jaffar Ahmad, Fatima Hassan, Ghazi Salahuddin, Ejaz Farooqui and Kishwar Zahra were present at the inaugural session.

Speaking at the event, which was moderated by Dr Huma Mir, Ms Raza said that women would have to fight for their own protection.

She also said that women were unaware that there was a law to protect them.

She said that women had to stand up for their rights as nothing can happen until they raise their voice against injustices.

She stated that the women development department was making efforts for the counselling of traumatised and oppressed women to provide them with treatment and prevention from violence. “Barracks 91 is open for the women to provide them with immediate safety and shelter.”

She said that the department was training 1,500 people, including women, in 20 districts of Sindh.

Ms Raza asked the women to lodge their complaints on an open platform Suno Aurat Ki Pukaar on helpline 1094.

Speaking on the occasion, eminent writer Noor Ul Huda Shah expressed her happiness over the presence of majority of working women at the conference.

“A feudal lord is not the one who has vast land and property...it is a mindset. Religion is used to strengthen the feudal mindset and system,” she said.

Dr Jaffar Ahmed talked about the global feminist movement and appreciated the efforts and struggles of women in developing countries.

Arts Council president Ahmed Shah saluted all the women sitting in the auditorium and outside in fields for their struggle.

About International Women’s Day, he said only one day was not enough to praise the value of the women and they should be loved and respected in all aspects of life every day.

He also remembered the struggle of Fatima Jinnah and slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Several sessions were held on the first day of the Women’s Conference including a session on Natural Disasters, Climate Change, and Women and Violence and Our Justice System.

At the end of the first day, a women’s mushaira, presided over by Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, was also held.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023