Punjab Minister for Women’s Development Hameeda Waheeduddin on Thursday announced that the provincial government had earmarked Rs1.98 billion for women’s welfare projects for the current fiscal year.
Speaking to a delegation of working women, the minister said funds allocated for women’s development projects would help in resolving several issues faced by women in Pakistan.
“Women form 53 per cent of the country’s population, and the government is committed to resolve the issues they face,” the minister said.
“Construction work on five women hostels would be completed during the current financial year, while work on another five has also been completed,” said Hameeda.
The minister also announced that the government would set up 65 daycare centres for children of working women this year.
In recent years, Pakistan has experienced a rapid increase in the number of women joining its workforce.
While proving to be strong contributors to economic growth, working women still struggle with a number of workplace issues that hamper their professional aspirations, which include psychological and sexual harassment.
Domestic restrictions also play their role in forcing talented women to stay at home or restrict them from working in the field of their choice in the sixth most populous country in the world with a projected population of 188 million – of which women constitute half.