LAHORE, April 10: The spokesperson of Women Development Department, Punjab, in response to a report published in Dawn on April 9, has clarified that the WDD has been created after amending the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2012.

She said CM’s adviser Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has been made its in-charge while MPA Begum Iffat Liaqat is parliamentary secretary.

She said that a high-powered committee had also been constituted with the chief minister in chair to review and monitor the implementation status of the package. “Moreover, the chief minister has constituted committees headed by the law minister and home secretary to propose legislation/amendments in the relevant laws/rules to prevent acid throwing incidents, protect women against violence and to safeguard the rights of female heirs. Moreover, the committee headed by MNA Anushey Rehman is monitoring implementation of the women empowerment package and has met five times so far.”

The spokesperson further said the S&GAD had been directed to enhance quota for women in public service employment to 15 per cent and to amend leave rules to facilitate women proceeding on maternity leave besides a provincial implementation watch committee had also been constituted to oversee implementation of the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010. She said that PPSC had been directed to fill 25pc of general seats with women members while the provincial ombudsman’s office had been requested to have women as 33pc of consultants. Moreover Bank of Punjab had initiated women entrepreneur financing scheme with an allocation of Rs 2 billion.

The spokesperson said that “Punjab Daycare Fund is being established with a grant of Rs 100 million while health, higher education and schools education departments are making provisions in budget proposals for 2012-13 to facilitate women-related issues of female employees such as provision of buses, hostels etc. Similarly directions have been issued to all administrative departments, attached departments and autonomous bodies to initiate immediate action in respect of provision of amenities for women in public offices, constitution of gender mainstreaming committees and establishment of daycare centers in all organizations where five or more women are employed.”