ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal launched Citizen’s Guide to Prevent Gender Based Violence (GBV) under gender unit in Ministry to mark International Women’s Day.

If Pakistan is to be put on path of rapid development, then we have to connect 100 percent of population with development process of country, said Minister while addressing to participants.

He launched several projects for women under its development budget said press release issued here.

A gender unit is established in Ministry so that development projects can be considered and reviewed with gender perspective as well. He highlighted that 50 percent of scholarship programmes offered by government are reserved for women. He said that almost half of Young Development Fellows YDFs Programme initiated under Ministry are girls who have run best campaign against gender discrimination in universities across Pakistan. He mentioned that campaign against GBV by YDFs aimed to create awareness among female students on how they can protect themselves against any form of violence. Similarly, Citizen Guide will also be helpful for women in this regard.

Minister highlighted that government is going to start an internship programme soon in which equal opportunities will be provided to women and fresh graduate female students.

Similarly, government is also starting an innovation Fund programme through which women entrepreneurs will be encouraged and provided funds to run their business so that they can become role models for other women.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 11 2023

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