ISLAMABAD, Mar 10 (NNN-APP) – Pakistan launched a citizen’s guide, yesterday, to prevent gender-based violence, to mark the International Women’s Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal said, the citizen’s guide is established under the gender unit of the ministry, so that development projects can be considered and reviewed from the gender perspective as well.
“If Pakistan is to be put on the path of rapid development, then we have to connect 100 percent of the population with the development process of the country,” said the minister.
Noting several projects for women under the development budget have been launched, he added, 50 percent of scholarship programmes offered by the government are for women.
The minister further highlighted that, the Pakistani government is going to start an internship programme soon, in which equal opportunities will be provided to women and fresh graduate female students.
Similarly, the government is also starting the Innovation Fund Programme, through which women entrepreneurs will be encouraged and provided funds to run their businesses, so that they can become role models for other women, he added.– NNN-APP