ISLAMABAD: Experts at the 8th edition of the British Council’s Women of the World (WOW) festival shed light on importance of women empowerment gender disparity issues.

The experts emphasised that empowering women is not just a women’s issue, but everyone’s in the country, together we can create a more equitable and inclusive world.

The festival was held in joint collaboration with the WOW Foundation, UNFPA and the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Institute (ECDI). The two-day festival attracted an impressive audience of over 12,000 attendees, marking another milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards gender equality and empowerment.

This year’s event marked the second consecutive WOW festival following its successful expansion from Karachi and Hunza in previous years. The programme featured an engaging blend of panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, immersive performances, a dynamic marketplace, and children’s activities.

Participants were enthralled by a female qawali curated by Arieb Azhar, and a musical tribute to Haniya Aslam by Rakae Jamil and Suhai Abro delivered an electrifying dance performance. Literary enthusiasts enjoyed readings by Attiya Dawood and Zambeel, while families were delighted in an interactive pop-up session with Khaled Anam.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2025