ABOUT WOMEN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

BACKGROUND

Women Development Cell was established in the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh in 1979. It was up graded as a separate Women Development Department in 1995.

In 1998 the Women Development Department was merged with Social Welfare Department at secretariat level. In 2001 the Directorate of Women Development was abolished and a Women Development Wing was established under Directorate of Social Welfare. It was later on put under control of
Population Welfare Department.

In 2003 a separate Women Development Department was re-established.

MISSION

Women constitute 50% population of Pakistan. The Women Development Department being the sole government agency has to play the vital role of catalyst, lobbyist and influencer to attain the prime objective of women empowerment through gender mainstreaming in the project programmes,
providing gender equality and equity.

OBJECTIVES

• To maintain women’s issues by integration into all sectors of national
      development
• To ensure that government’s policies, plans and programmes are  Women-friendly.
• To ensure that women participate equally in decision making process of     national development

GOALS/TARGETS

The main goal of the department is to eliminate gender discrimination providing equal opportunities to women of the province to prosper.

STRUCTURE

The Women Development Department, Government of Sindh comprises of a Secretariat an administrative department and a Directorate headed by a Secretary and a Director, respectively. The Directorate is a field office with its sphere of responsibilities in all the districts of Sindh.

SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

Following are the key issues broadly determining the scope of activities for achieving desired aims and objectives :-

• Recognition of status of women in consonance with Islamic teachings.

• To eliminate  Orthodox practices in the name of religion in order to    achieve the true spirit of Islamic society.

• Economic, social and political empowerment of women.

• Elimination of gender discrimination.

TERMS OF REFERENCE OF DEPARTMENT

• Formulation of public policies and laws to meet special needs of     women.
• Protection and promotion of women’s rights, gender equity and equality    in public sector in particular and society in general.
• Developing  projects for providing special facilities for women such as    strategic initiatives, innovations and special equalizing projects.
• Coordination of women’s welfare programmes with the concerned    departments and agencies at district and local level for making    conducive and safe work environment for working women and    conducting research surveys in this regard.
• Improvement of working conditions of female workers both in urban rural areas.
• Promotion of cottage industry with special reference to participation of    women in such industry.
• Setting up of community mohallah schools and training centers for    women on the basis of self help community development.
• Setting up of advisory legal centers to provide legal aid to women and    to review laws considered to be discriminatory against women and to    formulate recommendations in respect thereof.
• Implementation of National Women’s Welfare Policy.
• Maintenance of a database of all women parliamentarians, councilors    and members of civil society organizations working on gender.

DIRECTORATE OF WOMEN DEVELOPMENT

The Directorate of Women Development is our field office headed by a Director.  Other personnel include, Deputy Directors, Women Development Officers and supporting staff. The main function of the Directorate is to implement policy, programmes and  projects of the Department. The functions and responsibilities of the Directorate are spread over all districts of Sindh having access to grass root level for strong linkages with line departments.