LAHORE: The Provincial Minister for Finance, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said that the government had evolved a comprehensive program for the welfare of women, to provide them equal opportunities. For this purpose, women interests were being protected in all schemes related to economic and social development.

During the current fiscal year Rs 900 million would be spent on social protection and development of women, while new projects would be launched for the welfare of women under the Gender Reform Action Program. He expressed these views during the one- day provincial consultation for the enhancement of knowledge of women parliamentarians of the “Gender-Based Critique on the Post Budget-Challenges and Opportunities for Women Parliamentarians” arranged by Aurat Foundation, Tuesday at a local hotel.

The Minister said that facilities like Day-care centres, Display centres, Nursery classes, Gym and Library were being provided at the Women centre in Lahore and Rs 130 million would be spent on this project, while Rs 67 million was being spent during the current fiscal year.

He said that Rs 3 billion had been earmarked for mother and child care. He said that their government wanted to empower women and Shaheed Quaid Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had struggled for this purpose and they would fulfil her mission. He said that Rs 43 billion had been allocated for law and order and work had been started to change the Thana Culture in Punjab.

Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said that political and economic stability was a must for solid growth and development in society and they were trying hard to provide maximum relief to people. He said that load shedding was a gift of the previous government and that they would be able to control the situation by the end of this year. 3,000 mega watt electricity would be generated by December, 2009.

While in the next four years, 10,000 mega watt electricity would be produced. He said that the role of women parliamentarians was very important in budget-making and that they should give their proposals to the Finance and Planning and Development departments, so that these proposals could be incorporated in the budget.

He also stressed the role of standing committees to be more effective. Dr Qais Aslam, Nasir Qazmi, Mumtaz Mughal, Sohaib Marghub and others also spoke on this occasion. Mehnaz Rafi, Bushra Gardezi, Sajida Mir, Zakia Shahnawaz, Ayesha Javed, Amna Ulfat and other women parliamentarians also participated in the workshop.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/8/2009