Moot highlights rural women’s resilience

“Despite losing everything in the recent floods, the hopes and dreams of rural women in Pakistan remain unshaken. With resilience, we stood firm to rebuild our lives. We, the village women, are the unsung heroes—protecting cities at the cost of our own lives and livelihoods,” said PODA leader from Khanewal, Bismillah Iram, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 18th Rural Women Leadership Training Conference held at Lok Virsa, Islamabad.

PODA Executive Director Sameena Nazir welcomed over 500 women leaders from around 100 districts across Pakistan, including delegates from all four provinces as well as from AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Renowned educationist Harroona Jatoi and Mumtaz Eskar, both members of PODA’s Board of Directors also extended a warm welcome, acknowledging the vital role women play in promoting community rights, social justice and grassroots empowerment.

The conference included a panel discussion on “Promoting the Right to Legal Identity for Women and Girls and Protection from Gender-Based Violence.” Speakers included Rural Support Programmes Network CEO Shandana Humayun Khan, youth leader and footballer from Kalash, Chitral, Saeed Nisa, Nasirabad Voter Education Committee Member, Asifa Jamali, transgender representative from Badin Fazila, Eva Welfare Organization Christian community representative from Gujranwala, Sidra Hameed, (former KP Ombudsperson Rukhshanda Naz and (Member Balochistan NCHR Farkhanda Aurangzeb.

They emphasised that legal identity, from birth registration to national identity card, is essential for accessing justice and securing fundamental rights. Huma Irshad of Shine Welfare Foundation, Gujranwala, stressed on the need to enhance efforts to ensure legal identity of persons with disabilities.

Representative of NADRA, Moazma Yousaf, especially joined to speak about the need for women’s identity registration in the national database. “Identity is a vital contract between the state and its citizens, essential for accessing rights and services—especially during crises like floods,” she said, highlighting NADRA’s efforts to improve birth registration through hospitals and primary healthcare systems.

While NADRA has achieved 98 per cent identity coverage for adults over 18, childbirth registration remains a challenge, with current coverage at 46 per cent due to societal barriers. Moazma stressed the importance of increasing registration, particularly for girls and the critical role organisations like PODA play in this effort.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Muhammad Waqas Saleem added to the conversation by highlighting the essential contributions of women to the country’s development and progress, emphasising their role as drivers of national growth and empowerment.

The ongoing conference will conclude on October 17.