Monday, May 5, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 28, 1429    

All out efforts underway for women welfare: Tauqir Fatima

Larkana—Sindh Minister for Women Development Department, Ms. Tauqir Fatima Bhutto has said that all-out efforts are being made to provide facilities for the welfare of women. In this connection an amount is available through the micro- finance scheme out of which Rs 30,000 will be provided as loan on easy installment so that women who want to start business in their home may be helped and enabled to earn a livelihood.

This she said while addressing an open katchery at Government High School Naudero, District Larkana on Sunday. She said there are limited resources while the problems are unlimited.

Tauqir Fatima reminded the womenfolk that the great leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had sought a pledge from the MNAs and MPAs of this area that they would hold open katcheries in their respective areas to solve the problems of the people at their door-steps. Sindh Minister for Women Development Ms. Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto said her ministry plans to establish working women’s hostels in all districts of the province.

She said her ministry was considering various proposals for women’s welfare to be included in the forthcoming budget and one of the proposals pertained to the establishment of working women hostels. She said women centres would also be established in Larkana, Sukkur, Hyderabad and other districts for the rehabilitation of women in distress adding that these centres would work to create public awareness about violence against women and provide free legal assistance in addition to accommodation, vocational training and psychological counselling to the needy women.

Sindh Minister said display centre will be established in which locally made handicrafts and articles will be placed for sale. Besides, she said the closed girl schools will be opened and tuition centres will be set up under the Department’s literacy programme, which could accommodate thirty ladies to get education free- of- cost. Its expenses will be borne by the Women Development Department, she added. Ms. Tauqir Fatima said it our aim to complete the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto at any cost.

She stressed the need for greater skill development to open further avenues of gainful employment for women in the rural areas. The Minister said time has come for the “fifty percent women population of the country” to play its due role for rapid development and progress of the country as per vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

She said the Sindh government while realising the women’s contribution towards the progress and prosperity of the country would take several steps for women’s welfare. The Minister exhorted the women to use their political power for addressing and resolving the problems of their community especially in areas of education, health and sustainable development, she said.

The Minister said today the problems presented by the womenfolk here in the open katchery included family problems, unemployment, and financial assistance from Zakat funds and Bait-ul-Maal for the poor womenfolk. On the occasion the Nazim of Naudero town Nisar Ali Murad Bhutto welcomed the Minister and highlighted the problems /party manifesto and assured of his cooperation for the welfare of the women.—APP