LAHORE (Pakistan News): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that rural women are playing a vital role in the province’s development and prosperity, adding that recognising their hard work and contributions is the primary purpose of celebrating the International Day of Rural Women.
In her message on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz paid tribute to the dedication, sacrifices and tireless efforts of rural women, describing them as shining examples of hard work, love, responsibility and selflessness. She said their efforts help keep fields green, homes thriving and the economy stable.
The chief minister said rural women were not merely labourers but active participants in Punjab’s journey towards development. She emphasised that protecting all women, including those living in rural areas, was her top priority. She said she wanted rural women to move beyond farming alone, become capable of making their own decisions and achieve greater economic independence.
Maryam Nawaz said building a strong, self-reliant and prosperous Punjab was impossible without the participation of rural women. The provincial government has introduced new opportunities, facilities and skills development programmes for them. She added that rural women were also benefiting from the Kisan Card, Livestock Card and Himmat Card schemes.
She said basic health centres across Punjab were being modernised to provide better medical facilities to women in rural communities. Efforts were also underway to improve the lives of rural girls through interest-free business loans, laptops and educational scholarships.
The chief minister further said skills training programmes were being launched to ensure the effective participation of rural women in the development process. Livestock was being provided to women to help them establish self-employment opportunities, while the establishment of a virtual police station was also part of efforts to protect women’s rights.