Women were once regarded as the weaker sex and were confined to the four walls of their homes to raise and educate children and do a myriad of mundane domestic chores.

These onerous responsibilities served as big roadblocks for them which seemed almost insurmountable.

However, the vast reserves of energy and irresistible urge to show that they were on an equal footing with their counterparts washed all these obstacles away.

Today, women are seen matching men stride for stride work in almost all fields. They even don’t lag behind in energy-intensive games like football, hockey, cricket, wrestling, which were once considered the exclusive domains of men.

Participation in such healthy activities not only contributes towards empowering girls and women, but also helps them build skills and confidence which stand them in good stead in taking the future challenges in their stride.

As a token of the nation’s trust in their competence, the PRC organized a women footfall tournament in celebration with the International Day of the Girl Child.

The event was organized at the Ayub Park, Rawalpindi on October 20 in collaboration with the Total Football. The Norwegian Red Cross assisted the PRC in organizing the event.

High Landers, FC, Young Rising Stars Red, Young Riding Stars Blue and Islamabad Football Association teams participated in the tourney. Subsequently, the prize distribution ceremony was also organized at the President House.

Begum Mehmood Mamnoon Hussain said women had won their mettle in different fields and their successes from playgrounds to politics had brought feathers to the nation’s cap.

“I hope our daughters will follow in the footsteps of Malala Yousafzai, Shazia Parveen, Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Hadiqa Shabbir and Samina Beg who had brought laurels to the motherland through their works.”

The PRC Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi said the PRC Women Forum had laid the foundations of healthy activities by organizing women football tournament on the International Day of the Girl Child.

He said the Women Forum will spare no effort to empower women and enhance their resilience against the odds.