Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Media, Ms Sharmila Faruqui, has said that the presence of a poetess in the society is like a pleasant breeze and holding Mushaira ends suffocation in the society. Poetry is the name of rare feelings and those who are engaged in this lofty segment are admirable.
This, she said, while addressing as chief guest at International Women Mushaira held, here at a hotel.
A statement on Sunday said that the occasion was presided over by well-known poetess Ghazal Jafri. Sharmila said that the present democratic government had taken many important steps to empower women and to give them their due status in the society.
She said that approval of the Bill against harassment at workplaces, Benazir Income Support Programme, Behen Benazir Basti, distribution of agricultural land among the landless women free of cost, were some glaring examples of the present democratic government's achievements.
Sharmila said that President Asif Ali Zardari was a symbol of the Federation and unhealthy criticism on him by Chief Minister Punjab was regrettable and that the Chief Minister Punjab should concentrate on the plight of the people of his province.
She said, "Pakistan People's Party has roots in all the four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Ms Sharmila asked Chief Minister Punjab to "focus on curbing crimes' rate in the Punjab and to stop the incidence of crimes against women."
Sharmila Faruqui said that it was also a big achievement of the government that it had increased the number of seats for minorities in the Senate.
Seema Gazal, Rehana Berelvi and other poetesses read out their poetry.