300 rural women, including youth, students, housewife’s, farmers, teachers members District Information Women’s Alliance (DIWA) 1st time marked “12th August 2024 international Youth Day” in 11 districts of the four provinces of Pakistan during 12 to 20th August 2024. Coinciding with Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day, the participants pledged to contribute to strengthening democracy by ensuring fundamental documentation, including obtaining national identity cards and registering as voters, thereby upholding the spirit of the day and planted trees in their rural communities.

The activities were led by women leaders in their respective districts: Ms. Sajida Baloach in District Kacchi, Ms. Suraiya in Loralai, Ms. Zainab Bibi in Sibi (Balochistan), – Ms. Mehira Ahmed in Buner, Ms. Ruksana Bibi in Charsada (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ms. Sawera Noor in Dera Ghazi Khan, Ms. Touqeer Fatima in Lahore, Ms. Rahila Ishaq in Okara (Punjab), Ms. Saira Lashari and Noor Fatima in District Shaheed Benazirabad, Ms. Nousheen Sajjad in Jacobabad and Ms. Shaheen Akhter in Thatta (Sindh).

Ms. Sawera Noor emphasized that awareness is crucial because the National Identity Card is not just a piece of plastic but mandatory to cast the vote, and a gateway to exercise one’s rights as a citizen. Moreover, Ms. Nasreen Kazmi addressed the consequences of not having National Identity Card by stating that without it, individuals cannot access various government services, including opening a bank account or applying for a passport, which is crucial for personal and professional growth. Without a National Identity Card an individual just doesn’t exist in the government policies, she added.

These activities were organized by the “Rural Women’s Network for Civic Leadership and Participation”, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).