ISLAMABAD: International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world on March 8. In the build-up to the day, Islamabad witnessed events across the city which celebrated the women of Pakistan.

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) celebrated International Women’s Day by conferring Amtul Raqeeb Award to six recipients.

Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, Group Head Compliance and Quality Assurance at PPAF, spoke about the gender mainstreaming efforts at PPAF.

She said: “The Amtul Raqeeb Award is conferred annually by PPAF on the occasion of International Women’s Day to honour and acknowledge outstanding individuals, especially women, for exhibiting courage in the face of adversity and becoming role models for their families and communities.”

PPAF instituted the award in recognition of the bravery and courage of Amtul Raqeeb, a programme officer at Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), Quetta. Amtul was killed on way back to Quetta from Mastung on January 24, 2011. Her contribution for capacity building of local traditional birth attendants resulted in a significant reduction of the mother-child mortality rate in inaccessible regions of Balochistan.

This year the award was given to Hakim Zadi, Zuhra, Maryam, Laljan, Nasreen Bibi and Zulekha Samejo. The six women were selected from local community organisations for playing pivotal roles in motivating and organising women in their areas.

Shoaib Sultan, the pioneer of rural development programmes in Pakistan, said: “I am delighted to see these wonderful women from across Pakistan, who have made such a difference for their communities. I first experienced the marginalisation of women in 1982 when I started working with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Gilgit and every time I went to villages and communities for meetings only men would come to meet me. It was not until women of a community wrote to me saying that we have already incorporated the principles you have spoken to the men about and it gave me an access point to start working with the women. Since then I have seen what all women can achieve!”

Award-recipient Laljan, who spoke in Balochi, was assisted by a translator from PPAF. She expressed her happiness at having her work in Kech acknowledged.

She said: “I formed women-only community organisations in the area and worked for family planning, which can be a dangerous vocation. I arranged for women of the area to receive contraceptives free of cost and work to decrease the mortality rate among women and children.”

Another recipient from District Layyah, Nasreen Bibi said: “I am illiterate but have mobilised women in my area, formed community organisations and contested in local bodies elections. I have also fought my own right to inheritance and now I live by one slogan ‘put my rights right here!’”

PPAF also showcased some artwork from a competition among schoolchildren, between the ages of seven and 12 years in PPAF-supported schools.

Samia said: “In community schools we can truly see the dedication and passion for education and learning. One of the best examples is Master Ayub’s school which is just across the road from the PPAF office and I see children there every evening even when it is raining.”

Dr Haroona Jatoi said: “The recipients of the Amtul Award serve as a guiding light for all of us. Today is a day to celebrate the achievements of Pakistani women who have excelled in every field and sector in Pakistan, often in the face of what seems to be insurmountable challenges.”

Qazi Azmat Isa, CEO of PPAF, said: “We need to recognise that no country in the world has developed without the participation of women in the development process. It brought tears to my eyes to read that Pakistan is the second last country on the Global Gender Gap index.”

Published in Dawn March 7th, 2015

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