National News

LAHORE, (MILLAT ONLINE):Minister for Women Development Department Punjab, Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din on Wednesday said strict laws were promulgated to protect rights of women.
“Harassment awareness volunteer programme has been put in place
in collaboration with local NGOs to create awareness about the issue
of women harassment at their work place,” she added.
Talking to APP, she said, promotion of female
employment was imminent for developed and prosperous Pakistan. She
said, since almost half of the total population of Pakistan consisted
of women and girls, it could not move ahead without their active participation.
The minister said in order to bring women at par with men,
the Punjab government had introduced special women empowerment
packages to target the areas where there was need for improvement.
She said, more than 85 initiatives for women empowerment had
been executed through the Punjab Women Empowerment Packages.
She said that Violence Against Women Centre, Crisis Centers
and Shelter Homes for women were set up, while an Ombudsperson
had also been appointed to specifically deal with women harassment
cases at work places.
She said, the Women Development Department under Chief Minister
Self Employment Scheme, was offering small interest free loans to
those who wanted to start business and more than 54 per cent
beneficiaries were women. Similarly women were provided exclusive
space in Sunday bazaars to set up their own stalls.
The distribution of livestock and establishment of cottage
villages was also another step to encourage women entrepreneurship,
she added.
Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din said to enhance women employment, they
had to consider the need for skilled labor, for which Punjab
Skills Development Fund had been established.
She said, training to workers’ wives, domestic workers, and
minority community was also imparted for their capacity building.
Besides, she said, vocational, technical, veterinary and daycare
training was provided to enhance labor force participation rate
of females in different industries.
She mentioned several other measures taken by the government to
amend the employment policies and make them more favorable for
females, like quota for public services jobs, age relaxation, house
rent, equal remuneration, maternity and paternity leaves and inclusion
of women in selection committees.”Career counseling centers are
established in colleges to provide advisory services to female students
to encourage their active participation in economy upon graduation,
” she said.
Answering a question, the minister said, the government had planned
to hold Women EXPO and establish Business Facilitation Centers for Women
to provide outlet to display their products and seed business advises respectively. A survey of the private sector to find our prospects for women employment would also be conducted. adding the government was determined to continue struggle to make Pakistan a women friendly place
to live and prosper.