Gender ratio: More girls than boys admitted at the Punjab University this year

Rallies, poetry recitals and seminars held for Women’s Day.

LAHORE:

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran has said that for the first time in the university’s history female students will outnumber male students, as more than 50 per cent of those admitted in the current academic year were women.

The vice chancellor was speaking to participants of rallies held in connection with International Women’s Day on Saturday.

The rallies were led by Principal University Law College Shazia Naureen Qureshi, Applied Psychology Institute Director Rukhsana Kausar and Zoology Department Chairman Muhammad Akhter. All of these concluded at the vice chancellor’s office.

Several departments organised seminars and debating competitions in connection with the International Women’s Day. Kamran said that there were 1100 teachers at the university, out of which 40 per cent were women. He said there were more women lecturers than men. He said four of the deans were women and that for the first time a woman lecturer had been appointed to the PU Syndicate.

Qureshi said no society could prosper without women’s full participation. She said Pakistan’s women must be empowered. She said women must have the right to independent decision making.

The Institute of Social and Cultural Studies organised a seminar on women’s health and social problems. Dean Zakria Zakir presided over it.

The Pakistan Study Centre organised a seminar on Political Empowerment of Women in Pakistan. It was presided over by Dr Mussarrat Abid. Dr Asma Afzal Shami too spoke at the event. The History Department organised a seminar on the role of women as mothers, sisters and daughters.

The Institute of Education and Research organised a seminar on Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development of a Country. Acting director of the institute, Abid Hussain Chaudhry, presided over the event.

Former University of Education vice chancellor Dr Munawar Mirza addressed the participants at the seminar.

The Department of Islamic Studies organised a seminar on the Status of Women in the Light of Teachings of the Quran.

Several students recited poems at a ceremony organised by the Oriental College.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2014.