National ( The cow news digital ) The Government of Punjab has expanded its women empowerment agenda with a significant investment in the “She Threads” initiative, a vocational training and employment program aimed at strengthening the role of rural women in the textile industry.
Under the latest allocation, a budget of 310 million rupees has been approved to support the program, which focuses on providing technical skills, financial assistance, and employment pathways for women across rural areas of the province.
The initiative targets women aged between 18 and 45 years who have completed at least middle-level education. Participants enrolled in the program receive structured training in various textile-related fields along with a monthly stipend of 15,000 rupees. In addition, transport allowances are also provided to facilitate access to training centers.
Officials state that the program is designed to bridge the gap between skilled labor demand in Pakistan’s textile sector and the economic participation of rural women. Training is being conducted in multiple industrial hubs including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Sheikhupura, where textile industries are already well established.
The curriculum under the “She Threads” program includes a wide range of specialized courses such as industrial stitching machine operation, fabric quality inspection, fabric cutting expertise, apparel supervision, pattern making and grading, apparel planning and merchandising, quality control, garment finishing, packaging, and related technical skills. These courses are aimed at preparing participants for both entry-level and skilled positions within the industry.
According to official data shared by the program management, more than 2,500 women have already completed training over the past two years. Out of these, 773 participants secured employment immediately after completing their courses, highlighting the program’s growing impact on women’s economic empowerment.
Currently, around 1,150 women are undergoing training under the initiative, while plans are in place to train an additional 1,350 women in the coming year. The government emphasizes that expanding participation will further strengthen the skilled workforce within the textile sector.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reiterated that empowering women economically remains a key priority of her administration. She stated that skilled women can become a valuable asset for national development, particularly in industries like textiles, which offer vast employment opportunities.
The initiative is being viewed as part of a broader provincial strategy to enhance vocational training, reduce unemployment, and promote financial independence among women in rural Punjab.
