First Hindko women moot concludes

The First Hindkowan Women Conference has concluded with the pledge to take steps for the promotion of Hindko language and culture. The conference was organized jointly by the Gandhara Hindko Academy and the Gandhara Hindko Board. The moot convened by Professor Dr Samina Zahid aimed to take women on board in the efforts being made for the promotion of the Hindko culture and language, which is the second main language of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the sixth of the country.
Farhat Jabeen, widow of Professor Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan, the founding-chairman of the Gandhara Hindko Board, presided over the conference. Noted writer and broadcaster, Aftab Iqbal Bano, was the chief guest on the occasion while Fashion designer Farishta Awan and painter Faseeha Zia were the guests of honour. The conference was attended by a large number of women from various sections of the society.
The women speakers read out papers to highlight various aspects of the Hindko language and culture. Among the speakers were Aftab Iqbal Bano, Bushra Farukh, Farishta Awan, Professor Dr Umme Salma, Professor Ghazala Yousaf, Resident Director of Aurat Foundation, Shabina Ayaz, Haneefa Bibi, Dr Gulnaz Arshad, Dr Shakira Noreen and Professor Dr Tazeen Gul. Several resolutions were passed at the conference unanimously. The participants called for efforts to give Hindko language the status that it deserved. They sought arrangements to facilitate children to learn respective languages at schools as optional subject.