Women's interactive platform for development

For the first time ever in the history of Pakistan, over 100,000 women will congregate at a single platform to celebrate their individuality and to mark their existence as equal partners in the social and economic progress of the country.
This opportunity is given by Women's Expo, the four day exhibition to be held in Karachi from 13th to 16th April 2006 is the first ever national interactive platform for Pakistani Women that would promote the soft image of Pakistan's globally.
The idea behind Women's Expo is to develop a national Women's Interactive Platform to integrate the efforts of all concerned quarters that are working for Women Development and Empowerment. This interactive platform would help improve collaboration and bridge gap amongst Government, Non-Government Sector, Corporate sector and Public, it was informed by Mustafa Qayum, CEO 4th Dimension Pvt Ltd and the head of organisers of the event.
This Expo will provide Pakistani women an opportunity to celebrate and entails her happiness, accomplishment of milestones and empowerment as a member of society.
The objectives of Women's Expo are to celebrate the existence and individuality of being a woman by encouraging their participation in all aspects of life, recognising their contribution and highlighting their multiple roles in the society.
It is a platform where women can be commemorated and reached out. And it will allow women to unleash their hidden energy and harness their abilities.
The exhibition would serve as a platform where over hundred thousand Pakistani women of all age groups classified as students, housewives and working women would congregate; meet and discuss their issues; vocalise their concerns; celebrate their identity, achievements and individuality.
They can actively participate in National Development; mark their existence as an equal gender; highlight their contribution in the society and converge efforts towards Women Development and Empowerment. women's Expo is a series of activities portraying the positive side of our Women such as their participation and contributions in various walks of life.
"Various stakeholders of women development and empowerment organise different activities to discuss the possible ways for improving women's condition in our society but all such efforts are restricted to a very limited number of audiences.
Having realised the need of a single platform where the efforts of all the organisations working towards women development and empowerment can be converged to bridge the gap that exists amongst Government, Civil Society Organisations, Corporate sector and the Publics", said the organisers.
Besides providing this single interactive platform, the Expo is providing various opportunities to generate maximum awareness regarding women rights and encourage Women's participation in all spheres of life, recognise their contribution and highlight their multiple roles in Pakistani society. This four day Exhibition would promote Women's Gender Mainstreaming and provide them with networking opportunities to celebrate their success and achievements.
A number of on-site activities are also planned at Women's Expo to attract maximum numbers to this First National Interactive Platform exclusively designed for them. The experts would carry out these activities to share their experiences and vital information with the participants, which would eventually groom women to perform better at their homes and work places.
A special train carrying handicrafts made by local skilled women would be run from Peshawar to Karachi from April 13 to 16 so as to showcase and display indigenous culture and skills to the world.
During the Women's Expo, experts from Health and Nutrition, Education and training, Beauty, Fitness and Home Management, health screenings would be undertaken. Women will be enlighten about their multi dimensional roles by incorporating Presentations on Successful Women, Women Entrepreneurship training and skill development programmes.
The experts will provide easy and hassle free - recipes and Nutritional meal solutions, discounted beauty services as well guide the participants about cost effective ways of House makeovers, Household tips and quick fix approaches.
An informative 1-day Seminar will be held on April 15, 2006 at Hall 5 of the Karachi Expo Centre, which would cover all segments of society where women have and can achieve success. Speakers with distinguished credentials will make their appearance and convey their teachings to the audience. A gala night will also be organised on 13th April, 2006 where cultural troupes comprising of females from far-flung areas of Pakistan will flaunt their cultural performances and will mark presence of women from all parts of the country.
To create awareness about women and their issues and to highlight their achievements, around 50 seminars and road shows would be held at various girls' colleges, major universities, chambers and associations, elite clubs and shopping venues, which have already been started from 26th of February. The idea behind all this is to create maximum awareness and to develop an association to the cause of Women's Expo by presenting live shows at strategic locations to a specific profile of women.
The exhibition is being organised by 4th Dimension Pvt Ltd in collaboration with the federal Ministry of Women Development, Government of Pakistan. Several other government and non-government organisations such as Provincial Ministries of Women Development, UNESCO, WHO, UNFPA, Sindh Education Foundation, APWA, PAWLA, Bunyad, Aurat Foundation and School of Leadership are also participating in the event organisation.