International Women's Day (IWD), 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 social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In many regions, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

Women Workers Help Line organized a huge rally with almost one thousand women and their children on the day of 8th March 2012. Working class women from the different areas of Lahore participated in the rally on the eve of international day of women. The rally started from Chairing Cross went through Queens Road and ended at Bagh -e- Jinnah Lahore. End Economic Exploitation was the main theme of the day but violence against women in broader sense. It is a great dilemma of our society as well of all developing countries that women have fewer rights and given fewer wages as compare to men.

Speaking on the occasion, Azra Shad chairperson Women Workers Help Line said that the status of women in Pakistan is not very much empowered because of the interconnection of gender with the other forms of exclusion in the society. She said that the women workers in informal sector face numerous problems. They are not paid proper wages. No labour laws are observed regarding women workers. The women are not given shares in the property. They face economic exploitation to an extent not seen by other workers. She said we are celebrating the international day of women with the most exploited women workers because they are the one who should come forward. Azra Shad demanded an end of discriminatory laws against women, the labour inspection must be ensured where women are working, government must ensure full implementation of minimum wage of Rupees seven thousand for eight hours work for women workers also.

Speaking on the occasion, Tanvir Jehan, chairperson Democratic Commission For Human development said that we must empower women to fight for the equal rights. Pakistani women are now in better position to claim their rights. They are not half, they are equal citizens and our constitution must ensure an end of all discriminatory laws against women.

All the participants enjoyed the day and demanded their rights and equal wages as to men.