Women’s Education Vital to Progress, Says Balochistan Adviser on Iqbal Day

QUETTA: Dr Rababa Khan Balidi (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), Adviser to the Balochistan Women Development Department, has said in a special message on Iqbal Day that the thought and philosophy of the poet of the East, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, remain a source of intellectual guidance and national progress for the nation today.

Iqbal, she said, taught the building of a conscious, dignified and self-reliant nation through selfhood, knowledge, character, self-confidence and continuous struggle. Dr Balidi said Allama Iqbal encouraged the younger generation to believe in their abilities, pursue lofty goals, and advance in the fields of learning and research.

His ideas teach us that the true secret of the progress of nations lies in education, positive thinking, strong character and practical effort. She said that in Iqbal’s concept of selfhood and national awakening, the education, training and social role of women also hold fundamental importance.

Women and the younger generation

An educated, conscious and empowered woman plays a key role not only in building a strong family but also in forming a developed society. Dr Balidi added that providing Balochistan’s women and young people with education, skills, research and opportunities aligned with modern requirements is the most pressing need of the time.

In the light of Iqbal’s ideas, she said, harnessing the capabilities of women could give a new direction to the social and economic development of the province and the country. She said Allama Iqbal’s message is not confined to one era or generation, but is a lasting lesson in knowledge, unity, self-respect and national service for generations to come.

Building a strong, prosperous and developed Pakistan, she said, requires making Iqbal’s thought an integral part of educational, social and practical life.