Women quota in jobs raised

Quota of women for recruitment in government jobs has been enhanced to 25 per cent from existing five per cent in the Sindh budget for the fiscal year 2012-13. This was announced by Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his speech for Sindh Budget 2012-13, in the Sindh Assembly here Monday. He said women empowerment was very close to the heart of our visionary leader Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and she had the credit for pushing through historic initiatives to lessen the plight of women. He said the PPP-led government at the centre as well as in the province is following her footsteps by putting women empowerment at the centre of the agenda as we stand firm in our belief that there is no tool for development more effective than empowerment of women. Shah said that a revolving fund has been created to provide legal aid to poor women, who otherwise would not have access or resources to legal support. Similarly, a revolving fund has been created for providing relief to the women/ juvenile prisoners, he added. He said the skill training in various trades is being imparted to reduce poverty. Realising the emancipation of women, and for their empowerment, the government is striving to create a conducive environment for strong mothers, who guarantee a strong nation, he added.