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’Ministry of Women Development fails to spend allocated amount for improvement of women situation’

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ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Women Development succeeds to utilize only 40 percent of the total amount allocated for women development in the year 2004-05 that mocks the tall claims of the present government that is more keen to change the fate of the women in the country, it is learnt.

Sources told that the ministry had allocated amount to the tune of Rs 0.703 billion for the improvement of the woman situation in the country but only 40 percent was utilized out of this money.

They said that ministry had allocated the amount to the tune of Rs 100 million to raise the living standard and generate the income sources for the women living in the rural areas of the country but the ministry utilized only Rs30 million for the purpose in the year 2004-05.

"As many as 70 percent still remains unutilized due to non-seriousness and lack of interest of the ministry in changing the situation of the rural women who are still living in poverty and facing different predicament," they added.

The sources further disclosed that Rs 385 million were allocated for the gender reform Action plan (GRAP) in the country to prepare the ideal situation for the women and providing them equal opportunities for them in all walks of life.

However, it is the sad story as amount worth Rs 50 million was provided in the year 2004-05 for the gender reform Action plan GRAP) and only one million rupees were utilized," they said adding that Rs 4 million were returned out of 50 million rupees and the rest of the money amounting to Rs 45 million was not still utilized.

The sources said that the ministry had focused on 33 percent women who were employees, had not taken into consideration the quota and merit and neglected the women who had not access to the ministry.

"The ministry has released huge amount of the money to the Non government organizations and there was no audit about it," they maintained.

They said; however, the National Assembly’s standing committee on Women Development had strongly condemned the act of the ministry to release the money to the NGO’s and demanded of the audit in this regard.

Ministry claims that the reforms would focus on refinement of planning, budgeting and public expenditure mechanisms, enhancement of women’s employment in public sector organizations and increased women’s political participation.

End.