Provincial Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din has said that the protection of the rights of women and their economic uplift is the priority of the government so that they could play their due role in national development.
She was addressing a high level meeting regarding hostels of working women, daycare centers and other departmental affairs here today. Members Provincial Assembly Khaula Amjad, Farrah Manzoor, Mary Gul, Haseena Begum, Mrs. Suraiya Naseem besides Khalida Rao, Mushahida Murtaza, Shazia Perveen, Sajida Perveen, Provincial Secretary Irum Bukhari, Director Moeen Akhtar, Deputy Secretary Nadar Khalique and incharge of working women hostels were present. Hameeda Waheed-ud-Din said that ten daycare centers will be set up at a cost of 100 million rupees while five working women hostels will be established with a sum of more than 38 million rupees during the current financial year where international standard facilities would be provided. The Minister said that the basic facilities in the already existing working women hostels will also be improved. She said that besides renovation of the working women hostels and posting of trained staff, generators will also be provided.
The Minister further said that the government is planning to ensure protection of the rights of women in all districts in accordance with the women development package. She said that the responsibilities have also been assigned to women members of Punjab assembly for promoting awareness about their rights in women. She said that women MPAs will arrange awareness seminars in their respective areas twice a month and submit report to the government. Provincial Secretary Women Development Department Irum Bokhari gave a detailed briefing to the Provincial Minister on aims and objectives of the establishment of the department, current budget and the relevant projects. Director Moin Akhtar informed the meeting that the construction of new working women hostels in Sahiwal will be completed in August due to which accommodation will be available to working women in 16 hostels of Punjab. There are 500 women living in working women hostels against the capacity of 752. Women Assembly members and hostels in-charge participating in the meeting informed the Minister about their problems upon which she assured their early solution.