headed by Justice (retd) Peer Ali Shah, had been formed to oversee the enactment of the legislation.
Referring to the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013, Mangi said rules of business for the law had been prepared in consultation with stakeholders and had been forwarded to the law department for vetting.
He said the rules of business for the “Early Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013” were also awaiting the approval of law department.
The additional chief secretary Aijaz Ali Khan added that Provincial Commission on Status of Women Act 2015 was also approved by the provincial assembly on March 2, 2015.
“The commission has to examine the policies, programmes and other measures taken by the government for gender equity, women empowerment and their participation,” he said. “The commission will also review all the provincial laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the interest and rights of women.”
Chief Secretary Siddique Memon said the finalisation of Provincial Homebased Women Workers Policy was also in the pipeline. “The cabinet committee has deliberated upon the draft bill and it will be presented in the assembly soon," he assured.
The chief minister commented that he had issued a grant of Rs130 million for developing an endowment fund to give small loans to women artisans.
"The policy for granting loans between Rs50,000 and Rs100,000 through the Sindh Bank has also been finalised,” said the chief secretary.
When asked by the chief minister, why was it taking so long, he said the endowment fund had been established at the Sindh Bank and the application form was being designed. He promised that the first loan could be drawn by the first week of January 2016.
Chief Secretary Memon also told the chief minister that there was a day care centre with a capacity of 30 kids was functioning in Karachi.
On this the chief minister remarked that only centre was not enough and issued orders to establish at least two more and one day care in each divisional headquarter of the province.