HYDERABAD, April 17: Women writers and intellectuals have called upon the government to award an exemplary punishment for perpetrators of Karo-kari.

They were speaking at a seminar on "The role of women in the development of Sindhi literature", organized by the Sindhi Adabi Board here on Saturday.

A large number of women and NGOs' representatives attended the seminar.

Speakers urged the educated women to play their role in creating awareness among the women about Karo-kari.

They said the government as well as literary organizations should take steps for the promotion of women literature and extend facilities for holding seminars and conferences in furtherance of this objective.

They highlighted the problems faced by the rural women and said that education alone could emancipate them.

They said women could become equal partners in the development of the country if they were provided equal opportunities.

They said women were deprived of their inherent rights to education and health facilities due to the feudal system.

Speakers were of the opinion that a separate and encompassing forum should be set up to work for the development of women as well as to resolve their problems.

Mumtaz Bhutto, Mehtab Mehboob, Dr Tehmina Mufti, Prof Sehar Imdad, Dr Qamar Mirza, Prof Amar Sindhu, Dr Naseem Junejo, Prof Rashida Bhatti and others spoke on the occasion.

EDUCATION WEEK: EDO education Abdul Majeed Hur has called upon the officials to ensure the success of the international educational week celebrated throughout Sindh from April 19-25.

He was presiding over a meeting of educational officials here on Saturday.

He reminded them that the government of Pakistan had initiated the move to increase the literacy ratio and the educational week aimed at that direction.

A week-long programme was formulated in furtherance of this objective.

Sindh education minister Irfanullah Marwat will lead a walk on April 25 in Hyderabad at the conclusion of the programme.