After 3-month trainings, conducted by College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM), a team of 80 females received their certificates in ‘Front Office Skills’ and ‘Culinary Arts Skills’.  The trainings were conducted under USAID supported Gender Equity Programme (GEP) of Aurat Foundation titled ‘Innovative Approaches to Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment’. These women from less privileged localities of Orangi Town, Malir, Kemari and Korangi of Karachi, also received trainings in ‘Basic Computer Skills’ and ‘English Language & Communication’ for enhancing their confidence and facilitating their entry into the industry. The certificate distribution ceremony was held on 29 April, 2016, at the COTHM Karachi Campus in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. As part of the GEP, COTHM is also supporting the certified trainees in getting employment, and some of the trainees have already been hired by renowned corporates like Marriott Hotel, Pak Airways, KFC and Pizza Hut, while others have their interviews lined up in the coming weeks.

 

Launching ceremony of USAID-supported Project ‘Supporting Female Graduates’ Access into Information Technology Sectors through Internship Programs’, a collaboration between Hamdard University and Aurat Foundation’s Gender Equity Programme (GEP), was organized on 20 April, 2016, at Hamdard University’s Madinat-ul-Hikmah campus, Karachi. The event was attended by representatives of corporate sector, universities, academia, NGOs, and media.  Ms. Naushaba Khalid, Director K&N Foods, Pakistan, was the Chief Guest at the occasion.

The event highlighted key activities and objectives of the project which aims to link fresh IT graduates to the market in terms of the internships and job opportunities available in IT Sector. The project will equip120 female IT graduates with employable IT skills along with the knowledge on women friendly environment, gender sensitization and laws on women protection.

Ms. Mahnaz Rahman, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation, talked about the critical role GEP has played for the betterment and empowerment of women in Pakistan in the past six years. Dr. Zubair A. Shaikh, President, Muhammad Ali Jinnah University, emphasized the importance of changing the paradigm and enabling more females to take up Information Technology as their career choice. Dr. Humaira Farooq, Head of Computer Science Department Bahria University, talked about the accomplishments made by women in the computing field. Ms. Alia Hasan, Faculty Member, IBA Karachi, spoke about the Career Success of Women.

Chief Guest Ms. Naushaba Khalid said that IT has penetrated a little late in our society and women have been a little wary of stepping into this profession. GEP’s initiative through Hamdard University is like opening a door for females to enter the IT profession. She looked forward to assembling again to hear the success stories of these females. Professor Dr. Hakeem Abdul Hannan said that women’s contribution is of utmost importance and twice in the history of Hamdard Foundation, at the time of major crises, it were women who led the institute. 

Launching ceremony of USAID supported ‘Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment’ project, a joint venture of Aurat Foundation’s Gender Equity Programme (GEP) and Management & Development Foundation (MDF), was held on 12 April, 2016, at Arts Council, Karachi. The event was attended by representatives of Women Development Department, CSOs, NGOs, project beneficiaries, and other stakeholders.

MDF, through this project, will train 60 housewives of Sakhi Hassan area in Karachi to cook hygienic food and distribute as lunch boxes to the nearby industries and offices. MDF will also establish their linkages with corporate sector in Karachi who are the end beneficiaries of this project. These women will also be given basic knowledge about developing their small enterprise, market linkages as well as methods to sustain their business beyond the life of this project.

The project objectives and scope were presented in detail to the participants. Ms. Musarat Jabeen, Deputy Director, Women Development Department, Sindh, expressed her appreciation of the project which has provided opportunity to women to take part in change, advance women rights, and reduce poverty at household level. Ms. Mehnaz Rehman, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation, appreciated MDF Management for close coordination and involving all stakeholders for the project launch.

On April 7, 2016, Post Master General (PMG) of Balochistan Mr. Khalid Awais Ranjha visited Aurat Foundation Quetta office. The visit of PMG was planned on his request. During his visit, discussion was made on the background of Aurat Foundation, ongoing projects and sub-grants awarded in Balochistan under Gender Equity Program (GEP).

Mr. Ranjha showed great interest towards the activities of Aurat Foundation in Balochistan and desired to extend his support. In reply Aurat Foundation team thanked him for visiting Quetta office. He was asked to help regional office in spreading women’s rights messages, by printing  such messages on the back of mailing envelops for the awareness of masses. He assured regional team for his complete support and also asked to devise messages that can be printed on the postal envelops.

At the end of meeting Mr. Haroon Dawood, Resident Director,  along  with Aurat Foundation’s team, thanked PMG for his visit and extending support to regional office for promoting women’s rights agenda in Balochistan through messages.    

A delegation of Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office, comprising Resident Director, Deputy Programme Manager – GEP and IT officer GEP, visited the office of Honourable Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai on 1 April 2016. The meeting was planned on the request of Aurat Foundation regional office and a renowned woman lawyer Ms. Irum Mehmood to discuss the issue of the implementation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2010 in the premises of courts, establishment of women friendly spaces and development of Gender Sensitive HR policies for court premises in Balochistan.

Honorable Chief Justice informed the delegation of Aurat Foundation that after the inauguration of Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) established by GEP sub-grantee in session court Sibi, high court of Balochistan has proposed the establishment of WFS in every court premises as the part of new construction and renovation. At the end of meeting, Honorable chief Justice assured the delegation of every help in the implementation of pro-women laws and policies in the courts of Balochistan.      

A delegation of Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office, comprising Resident Director, Deputy Programme Manager – GEP and IT officer GEP, visited the office of Honourable Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai on 1 April 2016. The meeting was planned on the request of Aurat Foundation regional office and a renowned woman lawyer Ms. Irum Mehmood to discuss the issue of the implementation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2010 in the premises of courts, establishment of women friendly spaces and development of Gender Sensitive HR policies for court premises in Balochistan.

Honorable Chief Justice informed the delegation of Aurat Foundation that after the inauguration of Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) established by GEP sub-grantee in session court Sibi, high court of Balochistan has proposed the establishment of WFS in every court premises as the part of new construction and renovation. At the end of meeting, Honorable chief Justice assured the delegation of every help in the implementation of pro-women laws and policies in the courts of Balochistan.      

A delegation of Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office, comprising Resident Director, Deputy Programme Manager – GEP and IT officer GEP, visited the office of Honourable Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai on 1 April 2016. The meeting was planned on the request of Aurat Foundation regional office and a renowned woman lawyer Ms. Irum Mehmood to discuss the issue of the implementation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2010 in the premises of courts, establishment of women friendly spaces and development of Gender Sensitive HR policies for court premises in Balochistan.

Honorable Chief Justice informed the delegation of Aurat Foundation that after the inauguration of Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) established by GEP sub-grantee in session court Sibi, high court of Balochistan has proposed the establishment of WFS in every court premises as the part of new construction and renovation. At the end of meeting, Honorable chief Justice assured the delegation of every help in the implementation of pro-women laws and policies in the courts of Balochistan.      

A delegation of Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office, comprising Resident Director, Deputy Programme Manager – GEP and IT officer GEP, visited the office of Honourable Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai on 1 April 2016. The meeting was planned on the request of Aurat Foundation regional office and a renowned woman lawyer Ms. Irum Mehmood to discuss the issue of the implementation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2010 in the premises of courts, establishment of women friendly spaces and development of Gender Sensitive HR policies for court premises in Balochistan.

Honorable Chief Justice informed the delegation of Aurat Foundation that after the inauguration of Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) established by GEP sub-grantee in session court Sibi, high court of Balochistan has proposed the establishment of WFS in every court premises as the part of new construction and renovation. At the end of meeting, Honorable chief Justice assured the delegation of every help in the implementation of pro-women laws and policies in the courts of Balochistan.      

A delegation of Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office, comprising Resident Director, Deputy Programme Manager – GEP and IT officer GEP, visited the office of Honourable Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai on 1 April 2016. The meeting was planned on the request of Aurat Foundation regional office and a renowned woman lawyer Ms. Irum Mehmood to discuss the issue of the implementation of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2010 in the premises of courts, establishment of women friendly spaces and development of Gender Sensitive HR policies for court premises in Balochistan.

Honorable Chief Justice informed the delegation of Aurat Foundation that after the inauguration of Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) established by GEP sub-grantee in session court Sibi, high court of Balochistan has proposed the establishment of WFS in every court premises as the part of new construction and renovation. At the end of meeting, Honorable chief Justice assured the delegation of every help in the implementation of pro-women laws and policies in the courts of Balochistan.      

On 17 March 2016, Aurat Foundation Quetta organized an in-house session on ‘NGO-State relations: Women NGOs in Focus’, at its office, for its staff and Pakistan Gender Coalition (PGC) members as part of AF’s efforts to provide learning opportunities to its staff and partners. The resource person of the activity was Dr. Aurangzaib Alamgir who is serving as Assistant Professor in Department of Internal Relations at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) Quetta.  

Dr. Aurangzaib delivered detailed lecture on the topic and started with the history of emergence of State System. He said that, State System was introduced and established in 1648 through issuance of ‘First International Order’. The order was issued after 80 years of war to keep peace and harmony. He said that, due to State System peace remained till 1914. After WWI, the state system remained intact but anarchy spread all over the world. He said that, United Nations (UN) came into being in 1945 to stop that anarchy. Then the NGO system started in the world.

He said that NGOs should have four characteristics to influence, like, access to the government, support of public, knowledge of regime type (government / political parties) and wait for the suitable time. Explaining the NGO-State relations he said that, there are three types of relationship between both parties: cooperation, confrontation and complimentary. He said that, NGOs of Pakistan are in cooperation and as well as in complimentary mood. He stressed that bureaucracy is the major obstacle in the path of good relationships between government and NGOs in Pakistan.

He informed participants that, ‘Sisters in Islam’ a Malaysian women rights organization is an Islamic feminist organization which works on women’s legal rights according to teachings of Islam and push government to legislate new women-friendly laws by taking on board the religious parties. He said that the organization forced government of Malaysia to legislate and amend the ‘Polygamy’ law in light of Quranic Verses. And, as a result, according to new Law of Polygamy, it is now compulsory for all men to prove before the court of law that why the second marriage is necessary for them. They can marry after the approval of court.

He further said that Pakistan is a very crucial country for outside world due to its geographical presence. Due to external involvement, Pakistan is not only combating with terrorist organizations but also ensuring to control the internal factors as well, like surveillance on NGO etc. He said that US is the highest contributor to UN with bearing the twenty five percent of expenditures of it. Other big countries like China and western world are not contributing as much. He said that, new International Order is in the making and soon it will be declared to change the things.

At the end, participants shared their views and praised the efforts of AF for arranging such an informative session for them. Mr. Haroon Dawood, Resident Director AF, Quetta, thanked Dr. Aurangzaib on behalf of AF for delivering a highly knowledgeable lecture and also thanked PGC members for their presence.