The Punjab government has intensified its efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment through the “She Threads” initiative, a skills development programme designed to equip rural women with marketable skills in the textile sector.
Over 2,500 women trained under Punjab’s ‘She Threads’ initiative
LAHORE, Jun 10 (APP): The Punjab government has intensified its efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment through the “She Threads” initiative, a skills development programme designed to equip rural women with marketable skills in the textile sector.
Launched under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the programme has been allocated Rs310 million and offers participants a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 along with a transport allowance.
Women aged between 18 and 45 years, possessing at least a middle-school education, are eligible to enroll in the programme, which is currently being implemented in Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and Faisalabad.
Secretary Women Development Department Saman Rai said the initiative aims to increase women’s participation in the workforce by providing specialized training in different segments of the textile industry.
The programme offers courses in industrial stitching machine operation, fabric quality inspection, fabric cutting, apparel planning and merchandising, apparel supervision, pattern making and cutting, quality control, garment finishing and other related disciplines.
According to official figures, more than 2,500 women have completed training under the initiative during the past two years, while 773 trainees secured employment after graduation. Another 1,150 women are currently undergoing training, and plans are underway to train an additional 1,350 women in the next phase.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said empowering women through skills development and employment opportunities remained a key component of the provincial government’s development agenda. She noted that the textile sector offered significant opportunities for skilled female workers and could play an important role in improving household incomes and economic inclusion.
The “She Threads” initiative forms part of the Punjab government’s broader efforts to enhance financial inclusion, expand employment opportunities and improve the socio-economic conditions of women, particularly in rural communities.
