The Punjab government has allocated more than Rs300 million for the expansion of the ‘She Threads’ initiative, a programme launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to promote economic empowerment among rural women through skills development in the textile sector.
Under the programme, participating women will receive a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 along with a transport allowance during their training period.
Women aged between 18 and 45 years who have completed at least middle-level education and reside in rural areas of Punjab will be eligible to join the initiative.
Textile training courses are currently being conducted in Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and Faisalabad.
According to official figures, more than 2,500 women have successfully completed textile training programmes during the past two years.
At present, 1,150 women are undergoing training under the She Threads programme, while plans are in place to provide training to an additional 1,350 women during the next year.
Official reports indicate that 773 women secured employment immediately after completing their training, highlighting the programme’s role in linking skills development with job opportunities in the textile industry.
The initiative offers specialised courses in a range of textile-related fields, including industrial stitching machine operation, fabric quality inspection, fabric cutting expertise, apparel planning and merchandising, apparel supervision, pattern making and cutting, pattern drafting and grading, quality control, garment finishing, packing and garment waxing.
Speaking about the programme, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that ensuring the financial independence and empowerment of women remained a key objective of her administration.
CM Punjab said skilled women would become valuable national assets and contribute significantly to economic growth.
The chief minister further noted that the textile sector offers extensive employment opportunities for skilled women and emphasised the government’s commitment to equipping them with the expertise needed to succeed in the industry.
