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M Atif Ismail
MULTAN, Oct 16 (APP):Punjab’s Livestock Department has taken a groundbreaking step toward rural women’s empowerment through its Asset Transfer to Rural Women Programme, enabling thousands of the women to achieve financial independence and dignity by rearing livestock.
Deputy Director Livestock Dr Jamshaid Akhtar said that rural women were the true backbone of the agricultural economy, playing a vital role in raising animals with exceptional care and dedication. “Their hands not only nurture life but also strengthen our rural economy,” he stated, adding that the Livestock Department is proud to support these hardworking women through training and resources that ensure sustainable livelihoods.
Under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the initiative has already shown remarkable success. In the first phase, 4,870 livestock animals , including cows and buffaloes , were distributed among widows and divorced women across 12 districts of South Punjab. The second phase, now underway, and the initiative overall, carries a financial outlay of Rs 2 billion, targeting the distribution of 11,000 more animals to underprivileged rural women.
Dr Jamshaid Akhtar explained that beyond the distribution of animals, the department provides training in animal health, feed management, and milk processing. “This program is not charity; it’s an investment in women’s potential,” he emphasized. “Each woman who rears an animal becomes an entrepreneur in her own right.”
In Multan district alone, 412 women received livestock last year, creating a chain of positive change in their communities. These women are now generating income, ensuring family nutrition, and sending their children to school , by all through their own efforts.
He added that the program’s broader goal is to uplift rural women from dependency to productivity. By empowering them to own and manage livestock, the initiative strengthens not just households but entire villages.
Dr Jamshaid Akhtar praised the resilience of these women, saying, “Rural women have always been silent contributors to country’s growth. Now, through this initiative, their role is being recognized, supported, and celebrated.”
With this visionary program, Punjab is witnessing a quiet revolution , one powered by the strength, skill, and spirit of its rural women, who continue to turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth and hope, he concluded.