Artisans the highlight of women festival

ISLAMABAD:

The colourful women festival is in full swing at Lok Virsa with all the different activities proving to be a major source of attraction for the residents of twin cities. The three-day event which was inaugurated by First Lady of Pakistan Nusrat Pervez Ashraf on Friday, has been organised by Lok Virsa, Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights and Lok Parya to mark International Women Day.   

A large number of people, particular women and children thronged the festival and expressed solidarity with rural women demonstrating their skills at the festival grounds.

The festival features a number of activities such as artisans-at-work, a poster competition titled “Peace through Women Empowerment”, a speech competition titled “Role of Women in Strengthening the Democracy”, stalls by organisations working for women empowerment, a painting exhibition on violence against women, training workshop on “Gender and Development”, students mushaira and musical performances.

The major attraction of the festival remained women artisans-at-work in which over 50 craftswomen are participating. Female artisans were seen busy producing handicrafts which were a “major hit” among the visitors.

Lok Virsa’s Executive Director (ED) Khalid Javaid informed that the crafts represent a valuable material heritage, which forms a tangible part of our historical and contemporary culture. Unlike the west, most traditional crafts in Pakistan is neither a profession nor a hobby, but an essential component of the diverse cultural patterns a product of the ethnic and communal attitudes and practices.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2013.