'Enhancing women literacy rate vital to economic development'

Punjab School Education Secretary Muhammad Aslam Kamboh has said that the dream of economic development could be realised by enhancing women literacy rate in the country. Keeping in view the significance of woman education, gender budgeting and planning has been made by the Punjab government to ensure provision of missing facilities in girl's schools and resolution of female teachers' problems, he added.
He expressed these views while addressing the concluding session of two-day workshop on "Gender Budgeting and Planning", held under the aegis of Gender Mainstreaming Unit of school education department, here on Thursday.
The Secretary School Education observed that Islam assures equal rights for men and women. "We should obey the teachings of Islam while fulfilling the social and moral responsibilities, in the society. Punjab government has earmarked uniform funds for institutions for males and females. He pointed that the performance of institutions for females is better, terming it an encouraging sign for the education system.
Kamboh said with regard to the provision of financial resources and development planning, the project of woman education has been prioritised and special attention has been paid to the provision of rooms, bathrooms and boundary walls in girl's schools. In addition to that, special instructions have been issued for the disposal of promotion cases of female teachers and redressing of their grievances, he added.
Addressing on this occasion, Gender Specialist Rehana Anwar said the Gender Mainstreaming Unit has played a pivotal role for the welfare of female staff of the department and has made successful efforts for provision of a conducive environment in the offices to female staff. Moreover, on the movement of the unit, a circular regarding implementation of five percent recruitment quota for woman, has been issued, especially for the appointment of helping staff including clerks, computer operators and class 4 employees, she added.
Additional Secretary (Schools) Farha Masaud, Additional Secretary (B&P) Izhar Ahmed Sheikh, and Director Social Welfare Abdul Ghaffar Sheikh also spoke on the occasion.