Reclaiming Karachi: Fourth ‘Dialogue’ asks women to assume their role in society

KARACHI:

For Karachi to improve, it is very important for women to assume their role in society. This was the theme of the fourth 'Dialogue' session on Friday.

Karachi is a city with people from different ethnic backgrounds. "Men and women must have equal rights in our society to lead a better life," said Zara Basharat, senior manager of corporate communications and corporate social responsibility at The Express Tribune. "Women play a significant role in our society, therefore, they must be respected and given equal rights."

She was speaking at the 'Dialogue' session, organised by 'I Am Karachi' at Iqra University in collaboration with the Express Media Group.

Basharat, who was also a panel member, said that women have always played a significant role in our society even at the time of Partition in 1947. She said that Fatima Ali Jinnah is a glaring example of courage and resilience for women in Pakistan.

The panel also included Injaz Pakistan CEO Azra Maqsood, National Academy of Performing Arts actor Bakhtawar Mazhar and Iqra University's corporate liaison unit manager Nadeemur Rehman. The panel members highlighted the importance of honouring women in society through empowerment.

Rehman said that it is important for men to help women identify their roles in society. "My mother is a psychologist while my wife is also a certified teacher," he said. "I discuss every problem with my wife and seek her advice to make important decisions."

'I Am Karachi' is going to organise two more 'Dialogue' sessions in the coming week. The fifth session will be held at Indus University on April 21 while the sixth session will be held at the Benazir Bhutto University on April 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.