Rs14bn for women welfare projects: PPDB

LAHORE: Women welfare projects will get Rs14.2 billion in the province during the current fiscal.

These views were expressed by Punjab Planning and Development Board (PPDB) Secretary Arif Anwar Baloch while addressing a seminar on "gender responsive budgeting" on Saturday.

"Projects for women welfare have been planned keeping in view ground realities and receiving response from government departments and other stakeholders," he said and hoped for the success of the projects.

Baloch said an amount of Rs4.5 billion was also being allocated for mother and child healthcare in the province which iteslf explained government's comitment towards women. He said that Rs100 million had also been allocated for setting up daycare centres to help working women and enable them work with dedication.

"A quota of 15% employment of women in jobs has also been allocated which is a revolutionary step," he added.  He said a special fund for development of women had also been constituted at Rs500 million.

"The government is also working to reform laws to enable women to get their due share from inheritance," he said adding, after the reforms no one would be able to deprive women of their rights.

Project manager Muhammad Zaman Wattoo, monitoring specialist Gulzar Ahmed, senior officers of P&D, EDOs and other officers were also present.