International Women's Day is being celebrated on March 8 (Thursday) to raise awareness about gender equality and empowerment of women.

Marriyum Aurangzeb (Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting): Government is taking maximum steps to empower women in order to enhance their role in national life. The whole society needs to play its active role in giving women their due rights that have also been enshrined in Islam. Men folks should also be given maximum awareness about women rights, so that they give confidence to their women to pursue their personal and professional lives.

Khawar Mumtaz (Women Rights Activists): On this day women had raised their voice for their rights, 100 years ago. There are many challenges in way to implementation of women rights across the globe. In the contemporary world, majority of countries have legislated to ensure these rights. Male members of society should also participate for the better lives of women and assist them at the work place. The gender based discrimination still prevalent in the backward societies, but gradually the situation is getting better now.  Pakistan has many institutions to like ‘National Commission on the Status of Women’ to look after and help implement the laws regarding women empowerment. Women from all segments of life should collectively raise their voice for the promotion and protection of women rights.

Maiza Hameed (MNA PML-N): Working women are still striving to get their work recognized by the patriarchal society. Although government has formulated different policies and legislated on different issues regarding women empowerment but changing the way to think can help a lot in eliminating gender based discrimination. Government has to ensure women quota in jobs and education sector for mainstreaming the women. Punjab government has taken some good initiatives in this regard. Now women are also involved in decision making process in Pakistan.

Maleeha Hussain (Women Rights Activist): The process of change in women lives has begun. Harassment against women at work places also witnessing downward trajectory across the globe. The ladies must take collective action to ensure their rights at domestic and societal level. Women are very talented and they are proving their capabilities in every walk of life across Pakistan. The chapter of ‘Human Rights’ should be included in the schools’ curriculum for better understanding on equality of all human beings.

Nighat Parveen Mir (MNA PML-N): Women should work hard to get acknowledged by the society as major chunk of our population is comprised of women. All the social segments should work together to empower women and root out gender based discrimination. Rural women in Pakistan are not well aware about their constitutional and societal rights. Gender awareness of rural women can bring rapid change in economic and social condition of ladies.