The Punjab government is going to set up 10 daycare centers at a cost of Rs 100 millions while five working women hostels will be established with a sum of more than Rs 38 millions during the current financial year. Provincial Minister for Women Development Hameeda Waheeduddin, while addressing a high level meeting regarding hostels of working women, daycare centers and other departmental affairs on Saturday that protection of rights of women and their economic uplift is priority of the government so that they could play their due role in national development.
Members Provincial Assembly Khaula Amjad, Farrah Manzoor, Marry 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 said that basic facilities in the already existing working women hostels will also be improved. She 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 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 Moeen Akhtar informed that 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, he said.