Girls from various educational institutions participated in the art, speech, and drama competitions held on Thursday at the Aiwan-e-Quaid in F-9 Park.
The contests were arranged in connection with the 2nd National Women-at-Work Festival organised by the Development Communications Network (DEVCOM-Pakistan) in collaboration with the ICIMOD, Pakistan Bait-ul Maal, Islamabad Crescent Lions Club (ICLC), Nazria Pakistan Council, and the Debating and Literary Society of the Quaid-e-Azam University.
‘The empowered womanhood’ was the theme of the live painting competition.
As many as 38 students from different colleges, including Fatima Jinnah University, showed their creative genius in oil on canvas and expressed their vision on the theme.
The judges included Riffat Ara Baig, Beenish Azam, Mariam Rasul and Seep Mufti. Well-known artist couple Mansur Rahi and Hajra Mansur was the chief guest. Expressing his thoughts, Mansur Rahi said the girls had portrayed the issues confronting women very diligently.
He said we needed to create more opportunities for the youth to express their creativeness. It would help enhance the aesthetics in the youth.
In the speech contest, the students spoke about the role of women from independence to the development of the country. The young speakers mentioned the sacrifices of the women during independence, and said they were giving great sacrifices. Each word of the speakers was loaded with the blood and tear of women sacrifices which drenched and soaked the freedom and liberty of this country. Speakers highlighted every brick placed by woman in the progressive building of Pakistan.
A click of oppression and transgression on women was also brought into light.
The youth ambassadors gave a solution to major issues so that their voice could be heard on global forums.
They named the bright stars of Pakistani woman who became leaders and nominated their country among the most developed countries.
The revered judgment was done by Taqi Jawad and Ayesha Jameel whereas Abdul Wahid Jasra, the country head of ICIMOD was the chief guest on the occasion.
Ambreen Zahra, president of the Debating and Literary Society (QAU) presided over the ceremony.
Sidra Riaz was declared the best speaker in English category while Sherbaz Ali Khan and Shakeel Ahmad won positions in the Urdu category. The special speaker prize was bagged by Saima Kareem. The students of the four educational institutions performed plays highlighting the agony of women in different parts of the country.
