Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik on Friday said that present government had given an opportunity of decision making to women by giving them 33 percent representation in district governments and is focusing special attention on adult literacy in rural areas and for this purpose it required help from students. She was speaking to the Inter-Collegiate Hakim Muhammad Said Memorial Urdu Debate Contest, held under auspices of Hamdard College of Science and Commerce, at Bait-ul-Hikmah Auditorium, Madinatul Hikmah Karachi.
"Education is not meant for obtaining degrees only but it meant for acquiring knowledge and wisdom and to know how to make good use of brain. Education does not come to end once a degree is obtained", she said.
She urged students to concentrate on their studies as they had to lead the country which was only possible if they excelled in their studies.
Paying tribute to Hakim Muhammad Said, she said he was a "legend" and whatever he did for the nation, now his daughter Sadia Rashid was doing to complete his mission, was indeed in the benefits of nation and humanity as well.
"Those who work for education and health serve the country more than others as education is like soul which never dies. I saw today in Madinat-ul-Hikmah an impressing passion and hard work for education", she added.
Commenting on resolution of the debate, "man is the only guardian of woman", which was accepted by majority of the audience, Dr Saeeda Malik said we agreed with your decision and added, "Man no doubt is the guardian of woman, but Holy Quran addresses to men and women separately. It means women have their own identity. Men and women are two carts and they have to work jointly for solidarity of the country".
Earlier, Principal Hamdard College of Science and Commerce Munira Gulzar while presenting welcome address said this debate had become a tradition of the college and it happened due to interest and encouragement of Ms Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan.
About 20 students of 10 colleges of Karachi participated in the debate contest. Those participated were Rabia Rahim and Hina Akhtar (PECHS College), Umais Qasim and Muhammad Abdul Muqtadar (Government College for Men), Shahrukh Ali Khan and Danish Ali Zaidi (Islamia Science College), Zainab Akbar and Shumaila Samad (St. Joseph's College), M. Shoaib Naseer and Jamaluddin (DA Degree College), Sehrish Zubairi and Sabiha Naz (Government College for Women, Saudabad), Najmus Sehr and Maria Abdullah (Sir Syed College), Afsheen Jahan and Sanobar Ghaffar (Mehran College), Madiha Mubin and Muzammil Niazi (Bahria College) and Syed Mehr Zohra and Khola Khan (DHA College).
Dr Shakil Farooqi, Wakil Nasir and Dr Farhat Azim were the judges of the competition. Winning trophy went to Sir Syed College whose students, Maria Abdullah and Najmus Sehr, secured first and second positions respectively while Shumaila Samad of St. Joseph's College secured third position. Special prize was given to Madiha Mubin of Bahria College.
Shahid Bashir, M. Mubashir Moin and Jaweria Usmani, ex-students of Hamdard College, presided over the debate and delivered speeches as the leaders of the opposition and house respectively.
Dr Saeeda Malik distributed prizes among the winners of the competition. Ms Sadia Rashid presented shield, based on Holy Prophet's seal, to the provincial minister.
Besides Hafiz Pervez Ahmed, Administrator Hamdard Public School, a large number of educationists, teachers and students attended the occasion.