Punjab allocates Rs 80b for women development, empowerment

The Punjab government has allocated Rs 80 billion for women development, including development and non-development expenditures for fiscal year 2026-27

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2026) The Punjab government has allocated Rs 80 billion for women development, including development and non-development expenditures for fiscal year 2026-27.

Presenting the budget in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said the allocation reflected Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision of empowering women through equal opportunities in education, health, employment and decision-making.

He said the government considered women’s development not only as a means of economic independence but also as a key driver of social and provincial progress.

The minister said IT training had been provided to 2,400 women across Punjab at a cost of Rs one billion to enhance employment opportunities and promote financial independence. For the next fiscal year, Rs 150 million has been proposed for the programme.

To facilitate women in the legal profession, the government launched the construction of Lady Bar Rooms across Punjab at a cost of Rs 1.4 billion. He said the initiative would provide female lawyers with a secure and professional working environment. An allocation of Rs 332 million has been proposed for the project in FY2026-27, benefiting around 200,000 people.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

Under the Skill Enhancement through Home Reach (SEHR) Programme, technical and vocational training has been imparted to women and youth in line with modern job market requirements at a cost of Rs 975 million, benefiting 5,365 individuals so far.

The finance minister said day care centres established under the Women Development Department at a cost of Rs one billion had benefited more than 27,252 women. He added that Rs 2.35 billion has been allocated for the Women Empowerment through Communication and Enterprise Programme and the Punjab Women Empowerment Programme in the upcoming fiscal year.

He said the Livestock Asset Transfer to Rural Women in South Punjab Programme has provided livelihood assets to 4,385 rural women at a cost of Rs two billion, enabling them to achieve sustainable income and economic independence. For the next fiscal year, Rs one billion has been allocated for the programme.

The minister further announced that a Women University is being established in Dera Ghazi Khan at an estimated cost of Rs 550 million to expand higher education opportunities for women in southern Punjab.