PESHAWAR: The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has decided to move a bill in Provincial Assembly to exempt widows, divorced women, special people and small-scale home-based businesses from all taxes. KP Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development, Sitara Ayaz, said this while talking to media men in her office.

She said that the provincial government would soon launch a special motorcycle scheme for disabled students and special reforms would be made in ‘Darul Aman’ and its name will be changed also. The minister said those widows, divorced women and special people, who are running small scale business at homes would be exempted from all taxes and, for this purpose, a bill is ready to be moved in the Provincial Assembly for legislation, she said.

Sitara said that when she resumed the charge of social welfare and women development department, it was known only for special children education and wheel-chairs but in the last three years concerted effects have been made to achieve pronominal goals in the shape of constituting women commission for the status of women, legislation regarding child protection, establishing of women business development centre for women entrepreneurs and child protection, bureau for street children at Peshawar.

The minister asserted that the provincial government has also decided to establish ‘working women housing scheme’ and for this purpose land has been acquired in Hayatabad. She said that women’s development is her primary concern and in this regard women have been given 10 percent quota in government jobs beside their encouragement and 30 percent quota has also been allotted in Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar Scheme for women.

Source: Business Recorder

Date:4/30/2011