Punjab expands daycare network

In a step toward promoting gender equality and supporting working mothers, the Women Development Department of the Government of Punjab has approved the establishment of 121 new daycare centres under the Chief Minister's Special Initiative.

The move aims to provide a safe, nurturing, and affordable childcare environment for children of working women at or near their workplaces.

According to official sources, an amount of Rs200 million has been released to universities, colleges, district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals, Danish Schools, Centres of Excellence for Girls, and teaching hospitals across Punjab.

These centres are being set up as part of the government's commitment to improving workplace conditions and enabling women to continue their professional careers without compromising their family responsibilities.

During a special visit to review the existing daycare facilities, Director Women Development Punjab Tariq Khan Niazi said that the provincial government has allocated Rs1,000 million for the initiative. "So far, 320 daycare centres have been approved, out of which 200 are currently functional in different districts," he said.

Niazi explained that the funds are being released directly to the heads of concerned institutions.

"Each centre is equipped with child-friendly furniture, toys, and educational materials, while trained caregivers are appointed with salaries funded through the project," he added.

The director emphasised that the initiative reflects the Punjab government's broader vision of creating a family-friendly, inclusive, and equitable work environment.

"Supporting working women through reliable childcare is not just a welfare measure—it's an investment in Punjab's human capital," he said.