'Government engaging private sector to establish Punjab Women Hostels Authority'

Provincial Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz Fatyana has said that the Punjab government is committed to empowering women and they are engaging private sector for finalising legislation and establishment of Punjab Women Hostels Authority. "Access to a secure, affordable and reliable accommodation is a pre-condition to women economic empowerment and the Punjab government is working to make that happen," said Fatyana while addressing a consultative stakeholders meeting about the draft legislation on Punjab Women Hostels Authority on Thursday.
Representatives of different government departments including the Finance, Higher Education, Labour and Human Resource, Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Punjab, Specialized Healthcare, and LG&CD along with members of renowned national and international NGOs namely UN Women, All Women Pakistan Association (APWA), Aurat Foundation, AGAHE, White Ribbon, Punjab Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as managers of private women hostels, participated in the discussion.
Before the consultative session, the participants were divided into five working groups to discuss and present their ideas related to the legislation on the themes of current problem areas, logical framework analysis, standardization, operational framework, and the data analysis mechanisms. In her welcome note, Secretary for Punjab Women Development Department (WDD) briefed about the initiative of women hostel authority and said that the input from all the stakeholders will be taken into account and will be used to improve the legislation. Talking about the working women hostels, she stated that introduction of a regulatory framework in form of the formation of women hostel authority would facilitate women's entry and retention in job market.
"At present, 16 working women hostels are functioning under the administrative control of the Punjab Women Development Department in 12 districts through the Directorate of Women Development Department and the Punjab government is looking forward to engage private sector in this regard," she added.
In her speech as chief guest, the Minister talked about the importance of women as catalysts of change in the society said that "no society can achieve its potential with half of its population disenfranchised, disadvantaged and disempowered".
"With the establishment of women hostel authority, we will make sure no woman, who has a potential and desire to work, stops working due to lack of accommodation facilities. The Punjab government will ensure that working women get a secure, affordable and decent living experience in public as well as in private hostels throughout Punjab," she resolved.
Head of UN Women Punjab Hafsa Mazhar Siddiqui said that gender equality and women's empowerment is the key agenda for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). "Keeping in view this agenda, the UN women is working in collaboration with the Punjab government to create an environment to translate, monitor and report on the implementation of gender equality commitment," she concluded.