Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Women should not be afraid of cultural diversity and should express themselves through creativity, Lok Virsa Executive Director Fouzia Saeed said at a dialogue, organised by UNESCO to mark the World Cultural Diversity Day, here at the National College of Arts (NCA).

Fouzia said women were an integral part of the sustainable development, adding that women were repository of the culture as they hold the first place where the culture and diversity gets transferred to the next generation.

UNESCO’s Representative to Pakistan Vibeke Jensen highlighted that the event was organised within the framework of a culture and development project which aimed at mobilising a wide range of stakeholders on the importance cultural diversity.

She said Pakistan had an incredibly rich and diverse society in terms of culture, creativity and cultural expressions, which should be harnessed in the development of a dynamic economy.

Centre for Culture and Development Executive Director Izza Khan emphasised the importance and recognition of the diversity of roles of women at all levels for prosperity of the nation.

Special Challenge Exchange Programme Executive Director Atif Sheikh emphasised the role of persons with disabilities in creative industry. He quoted examples of such talented people who were able to achieve economic independence despite being physical dependent.