20000410

Govt working for women

development: Zubaida

QUETTA: Federal Minister for Education and Women Development Zubaida Jalal said on Sunday the government is working for social upliftment of women folk.

Speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of women artisans' festival, she said the government has decided that 50 percent of the development loans would be issued for women development projects.

The festival was arranged jointly by UNDP and the Balochistan Rural Support Programme. She lauded both the organisations for their role in women development in Balochistan.

She said 35 percent of the rural population was living below poverty line. She said that around 12 million women were engaged in economic activities in the country.

Zubaida pointed out that the women of the province did not have access to market for their handicraft work. They also did not have sufficient knowledge of marketing. That was why they could not get better return of their labour. Such festivals would help them have access market for disposal of their products.

She suggested exhibition of Balochistan's embroidery in other countries to explore market and encourage the women artisans of the province.

Chief Coordinator of the festival Dr Shaheena Waheed also spoke on the occasion. The minister distributed certificates among the participants of the festival hailing from various districts of the province. She also went round the stalls.ÑAPP