LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif says the Punjab government has published the first Gender Parity Report in South Asia.

The report will guide the government to take measures for the welfare and betterment of women.

At the launch of the Punjab Gender Parity Report 2016 and Gender Management Information System here on Monday, Mr Sharif issued instructions to set up a committee, headed by the chief secretary, to formulate and submit recommendations in four weeks for the welfare and empowerment of women.

Mr Sharif said an office of the ombudswoman had been set up and the right of a woman in ancestral property had been ensured through legislation.

He said the government also developed land record management information system. He said a women commission had also been established for resolving the problems of women while a 15 per cent quota had been allocated for them in government jobs. He said three years’ relaxation in age had also been given to women for government service.

He said the daycare centers were being set up across the province and vocational training had trained 140,000 girls under the skills development programme.

The chief minister said women were being offered interest-free loans and more than 11,000 cattle had been given to rural women for their economic stability. He said hostels for working women were also being established in all districts while 33 per cent of the representation had been given to women in the boards of government institutions.

He said his government regularised the services of lady health workers.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2016