QUETTA, Oct 22: The government is spending Rs25 million on two development projects, including construction of a women’s training centre for sustainable development and a vocational and computer centre here.

Officials on Sunday said that the projects were aimed at enabling women to fully participate in the national development process and in all spheres of national organisations.

Referring to the Gender Reform Action Plan, which was being implemented in Balochistan, officials said that it was aimed at ending discrimination against women.

They said the government wanted to ensure that women’s needs and interests were represented in laws and public policy.

Officials said the government is promoting those organizations which are working on community-based projects and conducting researches on womens’ problems in the province.

Referring to the presidential ordinance that helped secure the release of around 1,300 women from jails across the country, the officials said that it was an unprecedented step, adding that the government had also allocated 10 per cent quota for women candidates in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations.

UPLIFT PROJECTS: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi has said that mega development projects were underway in Balochistan, and completion of these projects will change the economic scenario of the province.

Speaking in a private TV channel programme, he said, ongoing projects in the province will bring a major change in living standards of the people of Balochistan.—APP