It goes without saying that while successfully fulfilling her traditional roles in family and society, the woman of today has the capacity and the potential to play a greater role economically and socially. As a nation, we must be able to set the stage for her to be accepted, acknowledged and recognized within a wider context; one in which we can truly assure her of an equal position and the rightful place in our society.

It is the obligation of the society and the government to ensure that women in Sindh are also able to aspire to the kind of empowerment women all over the world have experienced in modern times. My hope is that the equality and economic empowerment themes of this year's International Women's Day will encourage and facilitate the Sindhi woman, towards truly fulfilling the role required of her within a greater economic and a social framework at a national level. This International Women's Day, may every woman find the strength within her to successfully overcome challenges and emerge as a confident stake holder of Sindh's common future.