LAHORE, June 26: Allocation of Rs14 billion in the 2012-13 budget shows Punjab government’s commitment to women’s cause, says adviser to chief minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz.

“The government is determined to implement 34-point agenda for women’s empowerment,” she said at a seminar on ‘Gender-based critique on provincial budget 2012 -- challenges and opportunities for women’ arranged by the Aurat Foundation at a hotel on Tuesday.

She said the allocations were not only for one city. “If society will not honour women, we will not be considered a developed nation. Democracy is the future of the country and educated young generation is a symbol of development and guardian of democracy,” said the adviser.

Economic analyst and columnist Zohaib Marghoob criticised various allocations and said the block allocation in the budget was not appreciable. The government ignored various important sectors and not considered the importance of the common man.

Budget allocations should be clearly targeted towards women for ensuring their empowerment, he said and added the government ignored the agriculture sector. Funds allocated were nominal whereas the higher side of the allocation was prerequisite for the development of agriculture sector.

PPP MPA Faiza Malik criticised the government for giving laptops to students instead of fulfilling its commitment on development of the province. She said the government had not allocated funds for women-specific shelter homes and crisis centres.