LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to expand economic empowerment programme for rural women, it was reported on Tuesday.
In this regard, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the second phase of the programme aimed at making rural women self-reliant.
Under the second phase, thousands more rural women will be provided with cows and buffaloes.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Livestock and Dairy Development Department to finalize preparations for the second phase.
In the first phase, a programme worth Rs2 billion was launched to provide free cows and buffaloes to 11,000 deserving rural women across 12 districts of South Punjab.
Priority was given to widows and divorced women in the first phase, enabling them to generate a sustainable source of income for their families through livestock rearing.
An initial target of distributing 4,870 livestock animals was set under the first phase.
The Punjab government has devised a plan to reduce poverty and boost milk production by engaging rural women in economic activities.
Approval has been granted to provide cows and buffaloes to thousands more rural women in the second phase of the programme.
Directives have been issued to the Livestock and Dairy Development Department to complete the necessary preparations.
