19 February 2005	Saturday	09 Muharram 1426

PESHAWAR, Feb 18: The federal government plans to set up a crisis centre in the provincial city to provide free counselling and legal facilities to women facing serious problems, a source said here on Friday.

The government is looking for a suitable building where the crisis centre would be set up at a cost of Rs1.5 million. Interviews would soon be conducted to appoint a nine-member staff, a woman social worker, lawyer, manager, office assistant, watchman, security officer, cook and driver.

Initially, the centre would accommodate about 15 women who would be provided legal and counselling facility, an official said. A committee comprising social workers and NGOs working for women's welfare would be formed to keep a check on the system and affairs of the centre, the official said.

At present free legal aid, counselling and temporary shelter were being provided to women at Mera Ghaar, a crisis centre run by an NGO. The provincial government has opened a Daarul Kafala-cum-crisis centre and the rehabilitation of beggar women were carried out in a rented house in Hayatabad, the official said.

The government has also planned to merge the provincial crisis centre run by the NWFP social welfare department with the centre to be set up by the federal government, the official said.