KARACHI - The 22nd death anniversary of the founder president of All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan was observed on Wednesday.Begum Rana Liaqat Ali Khan who was the wife of Pakistan’s First Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan developed a famous Non Government Organization (NGO) APWA for voluntary woman worker. APWA was essentially her brain child. She was also a professor of economics.She founded APWA to oversee, consolidate and co-ordinate women’s activity for their empowerment and involvement in political, economic and social development. From her point of view, mobilizing women was absolutely critical for Pakistan’s development.Begum Rana Liaqat was convinced that “For a nation to rise to its full stature, men and women must march side by side” and women should use their freedom “not for social and moral excesses but in social services and intellectual pursuits.”She knew that women empowerment can change the society. To encourage female literacy in Pakistani culture, she popularized the concept ‘You educate a woman, you educate a family’.APWA, her lifelong commitment, is affiliated with international agencies and set up multi project centres for women throughout Pakistan with schools, dispensaries and maternity homes, family planning clinics in urban and rural areas. On her anniversary a floral wreath will be laid on her grave and Quran Khawani will be held at all APWA centres.