Today, a crucial meeting was convened at the Women Development Department (WDD) Gulberg office under the esteemed chairpersonship of Ms. Sumaira Samad, Secretary of WDD. The discussion centered on devising strategic measures to protect women and girls from falling victim to drug addiction.

In attendance were Hafiz Ubaidullah Zakria, Deputy Secretary, and Ms. Maria Javed from WDD, along with representatives Syed Mohsin and Syed Zulfqar from the Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH). During the meeting, the Program Officer from DATH provided insights into various forms of addiction and shared alarming statistics regarding addicted women and girls in Punjab.

Expressing profound concern, Secretary WDD, Ms. Sumaira Samad, underscored the urgent need for concerted efforts to address this pressing issue. She directed DATH to formulate a comprehensive plan in collaboration with the WDD team to disseminate information about drugs and treatments available for addicted women and girls.

Furthermore, Secretary WDD expressed a keen interest in organizing regular sessions at public sector universities where WDD's Women Development Centers are established, as well as in Working Women Hostels across Punjab. These sessions aim to raise awareness about the dangers of drug addiction and provide support and guidance to vulnerable women and girls.

The Women Development Department, Punjab, remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of women and girls across the province and will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to combat the menace of drug addiction effectively

The Secretary of the Women Development Department in Punjab attended a panel discussion titled "Research Report: Contribution of Women Domestic Workers in Unpaid Care Work: A Survey Study of Lahore District." The event was organized by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) in collaboration with the University of Home Economics. WISE focuses on gender justice and empowerment, particularly for marginalized communities. The panel discussion was part of a three-day international conference on sustainable development in Pakistan, themed "Exploring Progress on Goals 5 and 8." The discussion aimed to shed light on the role of women domestic workers in unpaid care work and the economy, with Dr. Shehla Tabasum presenting the research findings. The Secretary's attendance symbolized support for women's empowerment and gender equality efforts in Pakistan.