The women development ministry has released Rs 250 million out of the total allocated amount of Rs 418.563 million for Gender Reform Action Plan (Grap). Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday the amount was transferred to 111 districts and Rs 2.522 was disbursed among these districts.
They said that Grap has many facets, including institutional reforms and improving women employment in the public sector. The Gender Reform Action Plan proposes a coherent government reform agenda to align policy structures, processes, programmes, and projects for enabling the government to implement its national and international commitment for gender equality, they added.
There are also provisions for policy, gender development grant, and supportive financial reforms, the sources said. Sources said the project aims at establishing gender sensitisation sections in key strategic ministries and divisions for amendments to Rules of Business for appointment of women through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).
They said the Gender Reform Action Plan also aims at improving women political participation and support other programmes, including legislation for abolishing the parallel legal and quasi-legal systems, repealing of Hudood Ordinance, Qanoon-e-Shahadat, Qisas, Diyat, and impact of trade and structural achievements.
The Law Reforms Ordinance, 2006, was promulgated amending section 497 of the criminal procedure that relates to grant of bail for women languishing in jails. The promulgation of ordinance facilitates release of women detained on various charges, including violation of Hudood laws, they added.
Sources said that more than 1,300 women will be benefited and bailed out under the amendment, adding that 10 crisis centers for destitute women were established at Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Mirwala, and Hyderabad. They said the government has opened Distinct Resource Centers (DRCs) for lady councillors. DRC buildings at Hangu and Peshawar are completed and work is under progress in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Jafferabad and Sukkur, they added.