KARACHI, Aug 8: The director-general of Women Development, Ministry of Women, Brig (retd) Atiqur Rahman on Tuesday said that the federal women development ministry had established 20 women centres in the country while another 25 such centres would become functional by June 30, 2007.

''These women centres are working for the social, economic and legal empowerment of local women in the country. With establishment of 25 more such centres, the situation will definitely improve'' he said at a day-long training workshop for media professionals here in Karachi.

The training workshop for media professionals titled “Gender-based violence, honour killing and reproductive healthcare” was organised by Ministry of Women Development and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) here at a local hotel.

Brig Rahman said that the purpose behind organising such a workshop was to apprise media persons on reporting gender-based violence in the country.

The DG said that two shelter homes for women had also been established in Lahore and Islamabad where women were being provided shelter and other necessary aid.

He said they were also establishing women political school with the help of the UNDP and Norwegian government to educate over 30,000 women councillors.

Dr Rakhshinda Parveen and Dr Salim Asif gave presentations on gender-based violence and also discussed it with the participating journalists.

Later, the DG (Gender Equality) of the Ministry of Women Development, Suhela Asif, gave away certificates to the participants.—PPI