NDFF Pivotal To Highlight Climate Change, Harassment, Child Marriage: Speakers

News Desk

Rawalpindi: The launch of the Naqsh Digital Film Festival (NDFF) would play a pivotal role in highlighting climate change, harassment, child marriage, and women empowerment-related challenges.

These views were expressed by the speakers at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the  NDFF held on Monday at Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi.

On the occasion, UNFPA Pakistan representative Dr Luay Shabaneh said, “Climate change is one of the major threats we are facing and all segments of society including students need to play their role.”Dr Luay said that there is no better medium than art to express the culture of any country, adding the film is a tested weapon for social change, which should be used by women students to establish a powerful identity in society.

Member of Parliament and Secretary of Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Dr Shahida Rahmani said that the country’s development is not possible without economic and social equality.

Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan and Mohterma Benazir Bhutto are torchbearers for women. This is the era of media and social media in which these small films could play a big role, Rahmani added.

FJWU Vice Chancellor Dr Saima Hamid said that such festivals are very important to provide a platform for the students to showcase their talents and also bring academia and professional circles closer.

Dr Saima Hamid said that NDFF would highlight women’s issues through themes like harassment, child marriage and women empowerment.

Instead of focusing only on fame and fortune, the students should work on areas that uncover real issues being faced by society, especially women, she added.