ISLAMABAD, Feb 19 (APP):The government has planned to provide 22,000 scooters to women in next three years across the country under the Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Initiative for Women’s Mobility – “Women on Wheels”, with a total cost of Rs4.476 billion.
According to official documents of the Ministry of Human Rights available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on June 23, 2023, and carries a total estimated cost of Rs 4,476.170 million.
The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) have been designated as executing agencies.
Out of the total cost, the government’s PSDP share stands at Rs2,496.17 million, while Rs1,980.00 million will be borne by a financing partner bank to be selected by the Project Technical Committee.
Under the proposed funding requirements by the Ministry of Human Rights for the next three years, the project seeks Rs837.945 million for 2026-27, Rs1,828.362 million for 2027-28, and Rs829.863 million for 2028-29.
The project aims to enhance women’s mobility nationwide by addressing transportation constraints that often limit their participation in economic, educational, and social activities. By improving independent access to transport, the programme seeks to facilitate greater inclusion of women in the workforce and other spheres of public life.
Among other projects proposed by the ministry in the PSDP documents is construction of Rs1.445 billion Human Rights Complex in Islamabad. The initiative aims at consolidating key human rights bodies such as the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), and the Federal Institute of Human Rights (FIHR), Islamabad.
The consolidation of these bodies into one purpose-built facility will contribute to further improving coordination and service delivery.
Another significant proposal is the construction of the Senior Citizen Home and Child Protection Institute (Islamabad) with a total cost of Rs1.609 billion.
The plan also includes the construction of the Senior Citizen Home (Dar-ul-Shafqat) costing Rs465.622 million, besides establishment of the Child Protection Institute in Sector H-11/4 at a cost of Rs1.144 billion.
The initiative aligns with legal requirements under the ICT child protection and senior citizen welfare frameworks and aims to address long-standing gaps in institutional care facilities.
The ministry has also proposed human rights and women development initiatives worth Rs2.87 billion.
This programme includes the construction of Rs1.5 billion Federal Institute of Human Rights (FIHR), envisioned as a centre for education, research, training, and international engagement on human rights issues.
It also includes the construction of Rs800 million Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Programme and establishment of Day Care Centres in ICT, AJK, and GB, at a cost of Rs570 million. The initiative aims to enhance the working women’s participation in economic activities.