Punjab expands working women hostels network to boost female workforce

LAHORE, Jun 30 (APP): The Punjab government was actively expanding its Working Women Hostels (WWHs) program, with 17 facilities currently operational across 13 districts and several new buildings nearing completion to provide secure, affordable accommodation for employed women.

Talking to the media here on Tuesday, Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development Sadia Taimoor stated that the initiative managed by the Directorate of Women Development Punjab, aims to facilitate women relocating for jobs.

She informed that the network has expanded significantly since 2012, growing from 10 inherited hostels to 17 operational facilities.

The hostels were currently running in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G.Khan, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan and Sialkot.

They hold a combined capacity of 644 residents and currently house 521 working women.

The facilities offer CCTV surveillance, furnished rooms, internet access and recreational lounges, supported by 119 sanctioned staff members.

Secretary Women Development Saman Rai highlighted that multiple Annual Development Program (ADP) funded projects were underway to scale up the network.

She noted that new hostel buildings in Muzaffargarh and Rahim Yar Khan were in their final stages of construction and were expected to be completed this month, while a newly built facility in Vehari was being handed over by the Communication and Works Department. Additionally, the reconstruction of the Gujranwala hostel was scheduled for completion by June 2027.

Rai reiterated that this continuous investment reflects the provincial government’s firm commitment to ensuring safe housing for working women and encouraging greater female participation in the economic workforce.