QUETTA, Feb 1: The government will launch two development projects for women at a cost of Rs25 million — a vocational training centre and a computer centre — in the provincial capital, official sources said on Thursday.

The projects are aimed at enabling the womenfolk to fully participate in national development. These projects would train women in various fields, they further said.

Regarding Gender Reform Action Plan which is being implemented in Balochistan, the sources said the Action Plan is aimed at ending discrimination against women. They said the government wants to ensure that the needs and interests of women are represented in laws and public policy by various national bodies and agencies.

In this regard the government has taken several measures for empowering women and providing them equal opportunities in education, employment and training.

The government is promoting those organizations which are working on the community-based projects and conducting researches on women's problems in the province.

Referring to the 'Ordinance to Free Women Prisoners' signed by President General Pervez Musharraf on July 7, 2006, which helped in releasing around 1,300 women from various jails across the country, the sources termed it an unprecedented step in the history of Pakistan.

They also hailed the government's decision to allocate 10 per cent quota for women candidates in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations.—APP