Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Various socio-political, human rights and labor organizations staged demonstration outside Karachi Press Club on Tuesday March 5 to register protest against the incidents of humiliation and harassment of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and Lahore.

“These incidents prove that the society is completely in the grip of anti-women attitudes and the state is held hostage by these fanatical elements,” the human rights activists and trade union leaders said speaking at the demonstration.

“Peace and progress of society lies in the freedom of women and recognition of her as an equal human being,” they added.

Read: Working Women’s Rally on March 8 in Karachi

The participants of the demonstration demanded that not only the members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly guilty of insulting and inhumane words against PML- N MPA Sobia Shahid should be removed from their assembly membership, but their party membership should also be removed. Otherwise, it will be understood that PTI as an organization is equally responsible in this heinous act.

The speakers also said that harassment and misogynistic behavior of religious fanatics against a woman at the marketplace of Lahore shows that the state policies and the support of religious fanaticism had created a stifling environment for women. It also proved that women were not safe anywhere including workplaces and public places.

They said that the indifference and helplessness of the law enforcement agencies can be estimated from the fact that despite the identification of the persons involved in the heinous crime, they had not been arrested yet.

Read: Pakistani politicians too have mental disorders – Shazia Marri

Nasir Mansoor, Mehnaz Rahman, Anita Binjwani, Zehra Khan, Seema Mahashwari, Aqib Hussain, Sara Khan, Faiza Siddiqui, Ahsan Mehmood Advocate, Nooruddin Advocate, Iqbal Abro and Saira Feroze Khoro were among those who addressed the demonstration.

The protest demonstration was held jointly by the Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and other rights organizations against the shameful treatment of a woman member in the KPK Assembly and the incident of harassment of a woman because of her dress in Lahore. Comrade Zehra Khan of HBWWF led the protest.

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Karachi

Sajid Ali, an artist from Khyber Pakhtunkhaw, and his team won the prize of Rs.1.5 million for making 240ft long painting, said to be the world’s largest painting.

The artist and his team were handed over the cheque of prize money at the concluding ceremony of 3-day art workshop season- II organized by Crescent Art Gallery at Ferrier Hall on Sunday afternoon. As many as 30000 artists across the country attended the 3- day art workshop.

The other artists who were given prizes for their outstanding work include Qamar, Abdullah Siddiqui, Talib Naqvi, Fatah Halepoto, Sahar Shah Rizvi and others.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Local Government Minister Nasir Shah gave away cheques to the artists.

Earlier, Crescent Art Gallery CEO Nasir Javed, Curator Sidra Javed and Coordinator Miss Farah gave a detailed briefing.

Various programs were organized in this event, in which not only artists from all over Pakistan participated, but attracted foreigners who expressed keen interest in the exhibition.

The provincial ministers visited the artist gallery and inspected the art work made by the artists. (PR)

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Karachi

Mission Director for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Reed Aeschliman and Sindh Minister for Health and Population Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho launched a new family planning, maternal, newborn, and child health program.

The U.S. Government-funded $40 million Building Health Families Activity (BHFA) will operate in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to enhance primary healthcare systems. The activity will support voluntary family planning (FP) and improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in Pakistan.

“The United States has a long history of partnership with the Government of Sindh,” Mission Director Aeshliman said. “USAID is committed to strengthening this relationship by building upon the foundation and legacy of our partnership and a shared goal to save and improve lives.”

Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho lauded the continued support from the U.S. government through USAID and emphasized the Sindh government’s commitment towards improving health care for the people.

Focus on healthcare equity is fundamental to BHFA’s approach, and the activity is committed to addressing the needs of women, girls, and youth as well as people traditionally marginalized from accessing quality healthcare. Making health systems resilient to shocks from climate change is another core focus. The activity will meaningfully engage men and boys, strengthen human resources for health, deploy new digital health solutions, and ensure commodity and supply chain security for FP/MNCH services, eventually contributing to more resilient health systems. (PR)

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