Punjab’s ‘She Threads’ Initiative Gains International Recognition at OIC Women’s Conference
By Dr. Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan LAHORE: Punjab’s flagship women’s economic empowerment initiative, “She Threads,” attracted international attention during the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad on July 12–13, with delegates from 57 member states participating. During the conference, Pakistan’s federal authorities expressed interest in collaborating with the project, while representatives…
By Dr. Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Punjab’s flagship women’s economic empowerment initiative, “She Threads,” attracted international attention during the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad on July 12–13, with delegates from 57 member states participating.
During the conference, Pakistan’s federal authorities expressed interest in collaborating with the project, while representatives of the OIC Standing Ministerial Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) sought detailed briefings on both the She Threads initiative and the broader programs of the Punjab Women Development Department.
The She Threads project is designed to equip 2,500 rural women with market-oriented skills for Pakistan’s textile sector. According to official figures, 1,150 women have completed training so far, while an additional 1,350 participants are expected to undergo training in the next phase. To date, 773 women have secured formal employment through the initiative.
The Punjab government has allocated Rs310 million for the project over two fiscal years, including Rs150 million for FY2025–26 and Rs160 million for FY2026–27. Participants receive a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 along with transportation assistance during the training period.
Training is currently being conducted in the industrial centers of Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Sheikhupura, with the objective of connecting rural women to employment opportunities in Pakistan’s export-oriented textile industry.
Observers noted that COMSTECH’s interest reflects the project’s integrated approach, combining vocational skills development, financial assistance, and employment placement within a single framework. The model is viewed as having the potential to be adapted by other OIC member states seeking to strengthen women’s economic participation, particularly in rural communities.
The interest expressed by both the federal government and COMSTECH highlights the growing recognition of She Threads as a scalable initiative with the potential to contribute to provincial development, national policymaking, and international cooperation on women’s economic empowerment.
