HYDERABAD: (By Abbas Kassar) Aurat (Women) March Hyderabad has invited attention of government towards  issues  faced by women and girls particularly in social and economic sphere of their lives which should be overcome through gender-sensitive public policy and its implementation. Addressing news conference at press club here Thursday the leaders of AMH Professor Dr. Arfana Mallah,  Amar Sindhu, Haseen Musrat, Attiya Dawood and Rubina Chandio said currently women constitute 48% of population in Sindh, province of Pakistan but in labour force they are onl 11% compared to 49% of men, similarly around 13 to 30 percent female students are enrolled in major public universities and colleges. Net  enrolment rate for girls at primary and rural areas is just 41% which drops to 14% at middle and 6% at secondary level.

Studies and observation suggest that women and girls face multiple challenges and barriers including  lack of safe and affordable Transport and  accommodation facilities in big cities where opportunities for higher education and employment exist. In addition parents also do not prioritise  girls higher education due to various including poverty,son preference  and social and cultural constraints.

Aurat March Hyderabad demanded from government working women hostels in Karachi (500 rooms), at Sukkur,Larkana and Hyderabad (300 rooms each) to facilitate women participation in economic activities.Hostels should be affordable, safe and secure including buses for girls and women;provision of 1000 bikes to girls and also interest free loans to purchase rickshawa.

They also demanded more shelter houses for women  and also implementation of pro-Women laws.