Punjab Minister for Women Development Department Hameeda Waheed ud Din has said that the government has taken a number of substantial steps for women empowerment with a view to bring them into the national mainstream.
She was speaking at the inauguration of the daycare centre at the Regional Training Institute Township, here today.
Secretary Women Development Bushra Aman, Director General Population Welfare Naeem Rathore, Dr Asma and others were also present on this occasion.
Hameeda Waheed ud Din said that with a view to facilitate working women, daycare centres are being set up across the province under a phased programme. She said that the Punjab Daycare Fund Society has been established for the management of these daycare centres. She said that performance of these daycare centres, training of the staff working at these centres and the available facilities there are also being monitored.
She said that as many as 88 daycare centers have so far been established across the province while more centres will be set up during the current and next fiscal year.
Earlier, Hameeda Waheed ud Din inaugurated the daycare centre. She visited the playroom, nursery and kitchen of the daycare centre and appreciated the standard of the available facilities.
Later, the provincial minister distributed certificates among the 350 female domestic workers who completed their training with the technical assistance of WDD at Punjab Vocational Training Council.
Secretary Punjab Women Development Department (WDD) Bushra Aman and MD Punjab Vocational Training Centre (PVTC) Sajid Naseer Khan highlighted the objectives behind training in detail and said that the Punjab government is striving hard for the economic uplift and the wellbeing of women in the province, under women empowerment packages.
Hameeda Waheed ud Din, while speaking to the female domestic workers, said that Pakistan cannot make commendable progress without the due participation of women in the development process. “Pakistani women are very talented and they have proved their abilities in different sectors”, added the minister. She said that quota for jobs in the government sector for women, has been increased from 5 to 15 percent.
She said that working women hostels are also being set up in various districts of the province for the benefit of working women. She said that the government has ensured socio-economic development of women by taking further steps for the protection of their rights.
She appreciated the active participation of the female domestic workers and hoped that after getting training they would be able to get better jobs.
