In a string of colourful activities, the five-day ‘National Women At-Work Festival’ concluded at Lok Virsa on Monday with a prestigious souvenir-distribution ceremony among the participants.
Lok Virsa (National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage) and DEVCOM – Pakistan marking the International Women Day (IWD), organised the festival.
The chief guest of the ceremony was Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir, chairman, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the guest of honour was Brig Ihsanullah Khan, director general planning, Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA).
In his address, Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javaid thanked all contributors, specially NDMA, ERRA and UN Women, for extending their support and making the event a great success.
He said Lok Virsa, being a prime cultural body charged with the mandate for collection, documentation and preservation of Pakistan’s traditional heritage, will continue to provide healthy entertainment to the masses and an opportunity to the traditional practitioners, including master artisans, folk performers and folk dance groups to get recognition of their talent and serve to alleviate poverty.
Brig Ihsanullah Khan, ERRA DG planning, threw light on the efforts of ERRA for rehabilitation of earthquake victims during 2005 by reconstructing the lost and destroyed facilities, while following highest standards of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The main role of ERRA is macro-planning, developing selected strategies, financing, project approval and monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, it ensures the required coordination and facilitates implementing partners, whereas physical implementation of the projects is the responsibility of respective governments.
NDMA Chairman Dr Zafar Iqbal, the chief guest, stressed transparency during the rehabilitation process. He said that NDMA had put on its website every detail of expenditure it incurred.
The main purpose of taking part in this event is to highlight the efforts and achievements on livelihood, health, and media reporting during various disasters occurred in Pakistan during yester years, he said.
An array of colourful activities was organised during the 5-day festival by setting up 56 stalls to reflect the needs and issues related to women, young girls, children and other vulnerable groups during the disasters in Pakistan.
The main attraction of the festival remained women artisans-at-work. Female master artisans were seen busy producing beautiful handicrafts which were catching the eyes of visitors.
Prominent artisans were Khalida Parveen in Multani embroidery, Fouzia Naheed doll maker, Yasmin and Robina Ghazi embroidery, Fahmida Malik, Afshan embroidery, Ms Azhar jewellery making and Spozmai Balochi embroidery.
Other activities were traditional food court, stalls by home-based women workers, song and dance performances and other entertainments for families and children. Thousands of visitors from various walks of life attended the festival from 8 to 12 March and praised the efforts of the organisers for presenting such a beautiful event.
