LAHORE: Punjab Women Development Department (PWDD) Minister Hameeda Waheeduddin has said that promotion of female employment is necessary for development and prosperity of the country.
She was addressing the Japan International Corporate Agency (JICA) seminar for the promotion of female employment here on Tuesday.
JICA representative Magumi Fujita, former PHMA chairman Usman, FGCC Chairman Rehman, PTEA Secretary General Aziz Goher and others also participated in the seminar and highlighted the importance of female employment.
Hameeda Waheeduddin said that almost half the total population of Pakistan consisted of women and girls, whose active participation in economic development was essential for the country’s progress. The minister highlighted the steps taken by the Punjab government to empower women and bring them at par with men.
She said that the Punjab government has established shelter homes, crisis centres and centres to stop violence against women. Moreover, it has appointed ombudspersons to deal with cases of sexual harassment at workplaces. A volunteer programme to create awareness of harassment has also been started by the government with local NGOs’ help, she said. Strict laws are being promulgated to stop people from exploiting women in public and private life.
The WDD minister also pointed out that, under the chief minister’s self-employment scheme, small interest-free loans were being extended out to people who wanted to start their own businesses, 54 per cent of whose beneficiaries were women. Women were also being provided exclusive spaces in Sunday bazaars to set up their stalls, while the distribution of livestock and establishment of cottage villages were other steps taken to promote women entrepreneurship, she added.
