CM launches ‘She Threads’ to empower rural women through textile skills

The Punjab government has expanded efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment through the “She Threads” initiative, a skills development programme aimed at equipping rural women with marketable expertise in the textile sector. Launched under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the programme has been allocated a budget of Rs310 million and provides a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 along with a transport allowance for participants. Rural women aged between 18 and 45 years with at least a middle-school education are eligible to enrol in the programme, which is currently being implemented in Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and Faisalabad. Secretary Women Development Department Saman Rai said the initiative aims to increase women’s participation in the workforce by providing specialised training in various segments of the textile industry. The programme offers courses in industrial stitching machine operation, fabric quality inspection, fabric cutting, apparel planning and merchandising, apparel supervision, pattern making and cutting, quality control, garment finishing and related fields. More than 2,500 women have completed training under the initiative over the past two years, while 773 trainees secured employment after graduation. Another 1,150 women are currently undergoing training, with plans to train an additional 1,350 women during the next phase. CM Punjab said empowering women through skills and employment opportunities remained a key component of the government’s development agenda, adding that the textile sector offered significant prospects for skilled female workers. The initiative is part of broader provincial efforts to enhance financial inclusion and improve employment opportunities for women in rural communities.