Punjab Establishing Women Development Centres to Promote Economic Empowerment

By Dr. Ansab Ali, Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development Sadia Taimour has announced that 18 Women Development Centres have been established in public sector universities across Punjab, describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening women’s economic empowerment and enhancing their participation in the workforce.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, she said the centres have been established under the Directorate of Women Development, Punjab, with the objective of informing, educating and facilitating women in planning their careers and acquiring the personal and professional skills necessary for financial independence.

“These centres are not merely facilities; they are gateways for women to realize their true potential and secure their rightful place in the workforce,” she said.

Sadia Taimour noted that the centres have been set up in some of Punjab’s leading public sector universities, including Government College University (GCU) Lahore, University of the Punjab, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan, and Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, among others.

She said the centres offer structured training programmes in key areas such as CV writing, job searching, web development, career planning and research activities. These programmes are designed to equip women with practical skills that are directly relevant to the demands of the modern job market.

According to the parliamentary secretary, locating the centres within university campuses enables the government to engage women at a critical stage of their academic and professional development, helping them transition from education to employment with greater confidence and preparedness.

Sadia Taimour emphasized that the initiative forms part of the Punjab government’s broader strategy to remove long-standing structural barriers that have limited women’s meaningful participation in Pakistan’s economy.

She added that the government remains committed to expanding opportunities for women through education, skills development and employment support, and that further expansion of the Women Development Centres programme is currently under consideration.

The initiative is expected to strengthen women’s access to career opportunities, enhance employability and contribute to greater economic inclusion across Punjab.