A memorandum of understanding was signed here on Thursday to establish the Women Development Centre (WDC) at the Government College University Lahore (GCU) to raise awareness and provide facilities to women for career development, entrepreneurship, online education, and leadership. The centre would be established this year with a one-time grant from Women Development Department (WDD), Punjab.
GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi and WDD, Punjab Secretary Ms Ambreen Raza signed the ten-point accord at a graceful ceremony at the University’s Faiz Seminar Hall. Punjab Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz Fatyana was also present.
Earlier, the minister also inaugurated the up-gradation of the university’s day-care centre where WDD is providing equipment, trained staff and other facilities costing around rupees four million. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Fatyana said every year, thousands of talented and qualified women leave their professional careers due to a lack of better day-care facilities in their departments where they can leave children with trust.
The minister said they were also going to set up new day-care centres for the children of faculty and staff at Lahore College for Women University and Home Economics University. The minister said GCU has a vice-chancellor who is not gender-biased rather he’s pro-gender. She also said GCU-WDC will act network of all women development centres at GCU.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asghar Zaidi said daycare is a specialized job, and children would not be left with untrained staff. He said that GCU-WDC would empower women besides providing career guidance and counselling services. He also highlighted the need to raise awareness among men about the rights of women.
