Women in decision making inevitable for prosperity, says Alvi

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday emphasising the women’s active participation in all sectors, said one of the reasons behind Pakistan lacking prosperity was the non-involvement of women in decision making as well as the economic corridors of power.

The president, addressing the 12th convocation of International Islamic University (IIU), Islamabad, said the nation’s investment on the women education went to waste when they sat at home without going into the practical life.

Saudi Ambassador in Islamabad Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, Qatari Ambassador Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, first secretary of Thailand, IIU Pro-Chancellor Dr Ahmed Salem Muhammad Al-Ameri, Rector Dr Samina Malik and President Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi also attended the convocation besides other diplomats and educationists.

"Education is investment of this poor nation on you. If you will sit at home, this will be the loss of the nation. I want you not to give up its practical application. (However), this is the duty of the government and the nation to provide you a harassment-free working environment," the president remarked.

He also called for job structures for the women which should also facilitate them keeping in view the family-related engagements of the women.

Citing the example of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBU­H)’s wife Hazrat Khadija, also a working business woman, the president said Islam encouraged the women to work as it was not possible to leave half of the country’s population unutilised.

He, who earlier awarded PhD degrees to 138 and gold medals to 71 students, congratulated the students, their parents as well as the university and teachers for their hard work. He was appreciative that girl students consisted of over half of the total 34,000 strength of the university.

He advised the new graduates to welcome the knowledge without any religious biases or selection, and always remain humble and act as a knowledge-seeker.

Expressing his worries about the unbridled human mentality as being practised in Gaza, the president said Muslims derived their laws from Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

He lauded Pope Francis’ call for a ceasefire in Gaza, though the West and Israel seemed unwilling to do so. He said the world was keeping mum on the issue to serve the interests of the West which was unjustified in wake of the unprecedented barbarism being committed by the Israel against innocent Palestinians.

He told the students that in the past, the decision making powers vested with the Muftis and the state’s role was confined to just their appointment. Calling the new graduates "elite" going into decision-making, President Alvi said it was their responsibility to uplift the poor and change the society.

Lamenting the Muslims’ hesitation and misinterpretation of the scientific inventions in the past, he said the second renaissance of Muslims was not possible without keeping the doors to knowledge open.

The IIU Pro-Chancellor Dr Ahmed Salem Muhammad Al-Ameri congratulated the new graduates and said by obtaining degrees, they were stepping into their practical lives. Rector Dr Samina Malik said the IIU was imparting education in 114 professional disciplines making it one of the best institutions in the world.