Women's desks set up for municipal services

To ensure the inclusion of women in municipal services and provide a dedicated platform for registering and resolving their complaints, 'Women Facilitation Desks' have been established in 44 municipal institutions across Punjab, including Vehari.

The initiative has been launched under the directive of the Punjab Local Government & Community Development Department, while training and implementation responsibilities have been assigned to a foundation.

These desks have been set up in 12 Municipal Corporations and 32 Municipal Committees, where they are now fully operational. The aim is to enhance women's access to essential municipal services such as clean water, sanitation, cleanliness, lighting, birth and death registration, marriage and divorce documentation, public events, sports, parks, building plan approvals, street lights, drainage, registrations, encroachments, and stray animals.

These complaints will be processed on a priority basis. This initiative was taken in light of the departmental guidelines issued in December 2024.

The initiative is an extension of the successful "Bolo Aur Barho" pilot project previously implemented by Sangat Development Foundation in Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin, Gojra, and Kabirwala. Based on its success, the project has now been expanded province-wide.

Daily performance updates from these desks are being shared with the public via social media.

Under the official notification, women's open courts have also been made mandatory at all district headquarters. For monitoring purposes, Chaudhry Farmaish Ali, Director (Data Collection) at the Punjab Local Government Board, has been appointed as the focal person.

During the ongoing month, Women Facilitation Desks will be inaugurated in the Municipal Corporations and Committees of Vehari, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Murree, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Khanewal, Khushab, Kabirwala, Kot Addu, Khewra, Gojra, Layyah, Lodhran, Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Tala Gang, Taunsa, Attock, Wazirabad, Shalimar (Lahore).