The Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming on Thursday reiterated its recommendation that the federal government establish Working Women Hostels in the federal capital on a priority basis to meet the growing accommodation needs of working women and support their greater participation in the workforce.
Special Committee calls for priority establishment of working women hostels in federal capital
ISLAMABAD, Aug 06 (APP): The Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming on Thursday reiterated its recommendation that the federal government establish Working Women Hostels in the federal capital on a priority basis to meet the growing accommodation needs of working women and support their greater participation in the workforce.
The committee, which met here under the chairpersonship of Dr. Nafisa Shah, Member National Assembly, at the Staff Welfare Organization (SWO) Community Centre, observed that the initiative reflected the prime minister’s commitment to women’s empowerment under the Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package by ensuring safe, secure, affordable and accessible accommodation for working women.
During the meeting, the Director General of the Staff Welfare Organization briefed the committee on the organization’s mandate and welfare programmes, including Working Women Hostels, Day Care Centres, Community Centres, Holiday Homes, vocational and technical training facilities, welfare libraries, educational stipends and financial assistance schemes for federal government employees and their families.
The committee was informed about ongoing efforts to upgrade working women hostels, expand childcare facilities, modernize infrastructure and implement digitization initiatives in collaboration with the National Information Technology Board (NITB). These reforms included online admission systems, digital payment mechanisms and electronic complaint management aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and service delivery.
The committee was also apprised of key challenges facing the organization, including increasing demand for hostel accommodation and childcare facilities, ageing infrastructure, shortage of human resources due to vacant positions and financial constraints.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nafisa Shah said the provision of safe and affordable accommodation along with quality childcare facilities was essential for increasing women’s participation in the workforce and advancing gender equality. She stressed that welfare institutions must evolve to meet the changing socio-economic needs of working women and that parliamentary oversight should translate into improved service delivery and institutional performance.
Expressing concern over the widening gap between the growing demand for welfare facilities and the organization’s existing capacity, the committee emphasized the need for urgent policy attention, enhanced financial support and sustained administrative commitment.
Following the briefing, the committee inspected the SWO Day Care Centre in G-6/4 and the Fatima Jinnah Working Women Hostel in G-5, Islamabad, where members interacted with the management, staff and residents to assess accommodation standards, childcare facilities, security arrangements, maintenance, utility services and grievance redress mechanisms.
The committee took serious notice of deficiencies in infrastructure maintenance, utility services, operational management and accommodation policies, directing the concerned authorities to undertake immediate corrective measures.
It recommended that the Establishment Division formulate and implement a comprehensive modernization and rehabilitation plan for all Working Women Hostels and Day Care Centres under the SWO, with special focus on upgrading ageing infrastructure, improving safety standards, ensuring accessibility and enhancing service quality.
The committee further recommended adequate financial allocations and human resources for the Staff Welfare Organization, filling all vacant positions on priority, accelerating digitization initiatives and expanding the network of hostels and daycare centres in line with the increasing number of women entering public service.
It also directed the SWO to establish a robust monitoring, evaluation and grievance redress mechanism, conduct periodic third-party audits of welfare facilities and submit a comprehensive compliance report on the implementation of its recommendations within the prescribed timeframe.
The committee additionally recommended the development of minimum service standards and standard operating procedures for all Working Women Hostels and Day Care Centres to ensure transparency, accountability and uniform quality of services across the country.
The committee also approved the minutes of its previous meeting.
The meeting was attended by Members National Assembly (MNAs) Shaista Pervaiz and Shahida Rehmani, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani, Senator Khalida Ateeb, the Director General of the Staff Welfare Organization, senior officers of the Establishment Division and representatives of the Ministry of Human Rights.
