ISLAMABAD, Sept 8 (ABC): The government has asked the Ministry of Housing and Works to expedite the Working Women Endowment Fund. The Rs2 billion fund will help working women meet accommodation costs in Islamabad.
According to a document available with Wealth Pakistan, the Special Committee of Parliament on Gender Mainstreaming has reviewed progress on the initiative. The fund will reimburse part of the rent paid by working women who come from different parts of the country and hire accommodation in Islamabad.
The government has also asked the ministry to ensure the disbursement of a Rs500 million non-lapsable grant. National philanthropic organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations and public-sector bodies will channel the grant.
The Ministry of Housing and Works is leading the relevant prime ministerial directives under the Gender Women Empowerment Package 2024. The ministries of Finance, Planning and Human Rights are also supporting the initiative.
Day-care facilities for working women
Alongside housing assistance, the government is pursuing plans to improve childcare support for working women. These measures aim to make workplaces more supportive and women-friendly.
The government has proposed a national-level Day Care Fund to support working women. The Ministry of Human Rights is leading the initiative. The ministries of Finance and Planning and the National Commission on the Status of Women are providing support.
The government is also pursuing a project to establish day-care centres in Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Departmental Development Working Party approved the project on April 7, 2025, at an original cost of Rs700 million. Authorities later revised the cost to Rs804.743 million for the PSDP 2026-27.
The government has included the project as a main component of an umbrella PC-I titled “Human Rights & Women Development Initiatives.” The umbrella PC-I has now reached the pre-Central Development Working Party stage.
Flagship facility at Pakistan Secretariat
The document further shows that the Cabinet Division has facilitated day-care facilities in public-sector entities. The initiative aims to provide childcare support to working women at their workplaces.
The Cabinet Division has also established a flagship day-care centre at the Pakistan Secretariat. The facility will serve as a model for childcare services in public-sector workplaces.
The prime minister has directed all public-sector entities to establish day-care centres. The Cabinet Division is leading the implementation of this directive. The Establishment Division and Ministry of Human Rights are assisting it.
Together, these measures aim to address two major challenges for working women: accommodation and childcare. The government plans to provide support through the endowment fund, financial assistance and expanded day-care facilities.
