Mirpurkhas: The Hari Welfare Association organized a ‘Voice Festival’ in Mirpurkhas to promote social tolerance, brotherhood and peace, which was attended by a large number of villagers, citizens, representatives of government departments, youth and children.
Speaking on the occasion, Addi. Commissioner Afshan Shaikh said that the Voice Festival was an excellent initiative, providing a platform where rural women, children, peasants, labourers, government representatives and social activists could come together and discuss issues affecting their communities.
She said rural women had limited opportunities to participate in such activities and that initiatives of this nature helped promote peace, harmony and brotherhood among people. She added that the communication gap between government departments and rural communities could be bridged through such activities, assuring that government departments would remain accessible to the people.
Executive Director of the Hari Welfare Association Akram Ali Khaskheli said that peasants and peasant women in Sindh faced numerous injustices. He said outdated customs often resulted in girls being married at an early age, adversely affecting their lives.
He stressed the need to raise awareness in rural areas about the prevention of child marriages and their harmful consequences. He said more than seven million children in Sindh were out of school, while around 1.6 million children were engaged in child labour, emphasizing the need for joint efforts with the government to improve education.
He further said that growing intolerance and religious extremism in society were contributing to an increase in incidents of killings and conflicts. In such circumstances, he added, festivals and activities promoting dialogue and awareness could help foster positive thinking and social harmony.
CARE Pakistan Manager Naeemuddin said the purpose of the Voice Festival was to strengthen tolerance, brotherhood and religious harmony in society. He said every individual should be respected and treated with dignity. ‘This is a land of peace, and we should carry forward the message of peace,’ he added.