PESHAWAR: Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University commemorated International Women’s Day by holding week-long activities to encourage debate among students about women rights.

The students presented skits and took part in debates on “balance for better”, the theme announced by United Nations for International Women’s Day 2019, during the week-long activities.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between SBBWU and University of Science and Technology to share mutual research projects, faculty exchange and other capacity building programmes.

Dr Razia Sultana, the vice-chancellor of the university, said on the occasion that the day was meant for women and their empowerment. She said that the day highlighted the rights of women and recognised their struggle.

Dr Razia said that every girl should know about her rights and perform her role with responsibility. She said that provincial government was making efforts for empowerment of women and some women-related laws were also passed by the provincial assembly but efforts were needed at federal level too.

“In order to recognise and honour the services of women, March 8 should be declared national holiday,” said the vice-chancellor. She thanked the government representative Wajeeha Ikram for attending the event as chief guest and said that it was important for all to interact so that difficulties could be overcome and all could work together for rights and empowerment of women.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Ikram appreciated the efforts of the entire team and said that Peshawar was the land of hospitality. She said that every social issue had one solution and that was meaningful education. She said over the few years, literacy rate had dropped to 58 per cent from 60 per cent that was alarming.

She said that the government was working on different policies like scholarships, job offer market and university-industry linkages.

A mushroom farm at the university was also inaugurated on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2019