The All Pakistan Women's Association, or APWA, as it is commonly known, is a non-profit and non-political Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

i organization whose fundamental aim is the furtherance of the moral, social and economic welfare of the women of Pakistan.

It was founded in 1949 by Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan

Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan

Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan , DPhil, NI, was one of the leading woman figure in Pakistan Movement, along with her husband Liaquat Ali Khan, and career economist, and prominent stateswoman from the start of the cold war till the fall and the end of the cold war...

, a famous activist for women’s rights, who said that the role of women is no less important than that of men.

APWA has been a very active organization since its founding, with branches in 56 districts across Pakistan, and even in rural and urban fringe areas. It celebrates major events such as International Women's Day

International Women's Day

International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...

, UN Day and UNICEF Day annually, and is a charity organization which relies on donations to fund its work.

APWA received the UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 Adult Literacy Prize in 1974 and later the Peace Messenger Certificate in 1987.

Affiliations

APWA enjoys consultative status with the Government of Pakistan, and is internationally affiliated with many organizations, such as: General Federation of Women Club, International Alliance of Women

International Alliance of Women

The International Alliance of Women is a non-governmental, feminist organization, which embraces both women’s groups and individuals. The basic principle of the IAW is that the full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls....

, and PPSEAWA. On a national level, APWA is associated with:

• Ra’ana Craftman Colony
• APWA Cottage Industries
• Gul-e-Ra’ana Community Center
• Gul-e-Ra’ana Nusrat Industrial Home
• Women’s International Club
• General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), International www.gfwc.org

Programs

APWA offers programs in:

• Mother and child health services.
• Nutrition
  Nutrition
  Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
  
   Programmes
• Montessori/Primary Education
• Adult education
  Adult education
  Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
  
  /Literacy
• Social Education
• Population Planning Program
• Legal Aid
  Legal aid
  Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
  
  .
• Skill Training.
• R H Education.
• Adolescents Programs.