UO VC delivers special lecture at Police Line Okara

Okara (UNP / Sheikh Nadeem )The Vice Chancellor, University of Okara, Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar, delivered a special lecture on women harassment at Police Line Okara. The Regional Police Officer, Ahmad Arslan Malik, and the District Police Officer, Faisal Shehzad, were also present at the eve. Dr Farooq Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Management Sciences at UO, also delivered a presentation on the issue.
Addressing to the gathering of the police officers, the VC lauded the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment & Violence cell at the district level and encouraged the young police officers’ commitment towards humanitarian causes.
Highlighting the role of women in socio-economic development, he said that it was not possible for any nation to prosper by excluding women from the mainstream. He told that women across the world were actively working in knowledge-intensive industries and contributing millions to economy.
“Our women possess great potential and passion but the problem is that they are devoid of education, healthcare and other necessary amenities for the fear of being harassed in public spaces. In fact, we are shutting all public spaces for women”, said the VC.
Citing the recent incidents of women harassment in Pakistan, Dr Zakar argued, “Our social behavior, while dealing with women harassment cases, is turning to be ‘blame the victim’ and this is worsening the situation further.”
He further told, “Women are human beings at the first hand and depriving them of their basic rights and breathing space is a serious violation of human rights that is portraying our negative image among the international community”.
The RPO thanked the VC for his visit to the Police Line and applauded his contribution towards the rapid academic and infrastructural development of the university.