FAISALABAD - Speakers of a workshop on “Gender Empowerment and Home Life Improvement” underscored the need for changing mindset which creates hurdles in recognizing and bringing the women into mainstream of the society.

The workshop was organised by Institute of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development of University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) in collaboration with UAF Community College at Iqbal Auditorium here the other day. Addressing the participants, UAF VC Dr Iqrar Ahmad emphasized the need for changing mindset which limits women recognition and acceptance in the society.  He urged the organizers to extend their scope of work and get an impact assessment of the participating families as such initiatives need to effect tangible benefits to the family, society and country at large.
He told that Aurat Foundation was undertaking a variety of programmes like training, skill development projects, participatory social development, and Gender Equity programmes worth $45 million and the UAF would like to become its partner by offering capacity-building, skill development and outreach programmes as UAF was a proud member of NEVTEC, ICDD, AusAid, USDA, USAID, IFPRI, TIKA, and Punjab government’s skill development programs.
Dr Iqrar urged the academia of the Institute of Agri Extension and Rural Development to launch such programs of community participation and skill development which can ultimately transform into tangible benefits to the society. Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Dr M Iqbal Zafar urged the participating women to equip themselves with such skills helping them in economic generation. He said that some students of the faculty are working on impact assessment of the project. Earlier, in welcome address, Dr Tanvir Ali Director Institute of Agri Extension highlighted salient features of the project and told that the UAF was a comprehensive university, and besides offering under and postgraduate degree programs, it organizes a range of on-campus and off-campus skill development programs.

 aiming at making the participants skillful and hand on experience which enable them to engage themselves in economic generation businesses.