KU Seminar Urges on Gender Equality in Society

“Mothers play a vital role in the development of any society; a learned mother can educate her entire family and bring them up in a better way, creating an environment which fosters learning and personal development. Out of the two parents, a mother always has more influence on her children, and with the right love and care, she can bring up individuals who can contribute to a positive and thriving community. However, we can see around us, that whenever there is a lack of counseling and guidance in families, it affects not only just households but societies at large as well. We have all seen its effects.”

These views were expressed by the Director General of the Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, Dr Nauman Ahsan, while addressing the inaugural session of the seminar organised by the Center of Excellence for Women’s Studies of the University of Karachi in collaboration with the KU Faculty of Law, KU Students’ Advisor Office, KU Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization, and Sindh Higher Education Commission in connection with the International Women’s Day 2024.

The KU CEWS’s seminar titled “Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan: Accelerating Gender Equality, Economic Empowerment and Peace Building and Perception Management” was held at the Karachi University Business Auditorium on Wednesday.

Dr Nauman Ahsan further said as Pakistanis we often break rule and regulation, but as soon as we land on the soil of any other country, we ensure that we obey and follow their rules. “We do not like standing in queues, and do not mind if we drive the wrong way on the streets, but we avoid doing any such thing in a foreign country, as we know the kind of reaction and punishment we will get.”

During his presidential address, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that countries cannot be developed without promoting gender equality and empowering women. He mentioned that the money spent on the education system is not an expense but an investment for our future, and added that without quality education we cannot achieve our goals.

He shared that the Founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah called education a matter of life and death, unfortunately, the education sector is not among the priorities of our rulers, and as a consequence, the entire nation is suffering today.

The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi observed that we need to do more work to empower women in Pakistan. He said that women should have the freedom to make their own decisions about their future. He informed that women are strong pillars of society and no civilized society can be developed without them.

A speaker, the Director of the State Bank of Pakistan Museum Dr Asma Ibrahim said that the purpose of coming into the world is not just to live but to do something that will remind you even after you leave the world.

She urged that there is a need to deal with it instead of running away from it. Sharing her experiences with the audience, she mentioned from her life experiences that if you decide to achieve your goal, no setback can stop you from achieving your goals.

Another speaker, the KU Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Dr Shaista Tabassum said that Islam has given rights to women which are unmatchable with any other society.

Earlier, the KU Director of the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization Dr Syeda Hoorul-Ain said that the education of a man is only the education of an individual, but educating a woman is educating the whole family. She said that in our country, women are progressing rapidly in the field of education.

“We can progress only by empowering women. Today, women are developing their skills in every field of life.”

On this occasion, the KU Students’ Advisor Dr Nosheen Raza said that thanks to the struggle of women around the world, women’s rights and gender equality are rapidly improving, but, still they have to face hardship in third world countries.