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

• Rs310m skills programme launched for rural women with monthly stipend of Rs15,000 and transport allowance offered to trainees

• CM stresses women’s economic inclusion as key development priority with over 2,500 women trained and 773 already secured employment

 LAHORE: The Punjab government has expanded its 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, the programme has been allocated a budget of Rs310 million and provides a monthly stipend of Rs15,000 along with a transport allowance to participants.

Rural women aged between 18 and 45 years with at least middle-school education are eligible to enrol in the initiative, which is currently being implemented in Lahore, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and Faisalabad.

Thousands of rural women in Punjab are building careers through the She Threads initiative by Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The program provides textile industry training to women aged 18–45 with at least a middle-school education, along with a monthly stipend of Rs. 15,000 and transport… pic.twitter.com/EKjTQDohUN

— PMLN (@pmln_org) June 10, 2026

According to Secretary Women Development Department Saman Rai, the programme is designed to enhance women’s participation in the workforce by offering specialised training across multiple segments of the textile industry.

The training modules include industrial stitching machine operation, fabric quality inspection, fabric cutting, apparel planning and merchandising, apparel supervision, pattern making and cutting, quality control, garment finishing and other related skills.

So far, more than 2,500 women have completed training under the initiative over the past two years, while 773 trainees have secured employment after graduation. At present, 1,150 women are undergoing training, and 1,350 additional women are planned to be trained in the next phase.

The chief minister has stated that empowering women through skills development and employment opportunities remains a key pillar of the government’s development agenda, adding that the textile sector offers significant employment potential for skilled female workers.

The initiative forms part of broader provincial efforts aimed at strengthening financial inclusion and expanding employment opportunities for women in rural communities.

 

CM SEEKS REPORTS ON INCIDENTS IN LODHRAN, MURREE, MUZAFFARABAD

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the deaths of two sewer workers who lost their lives while cleaning a sewerage pipeline in Lodhran. She extended condolences to the bereaved families and sought an immediate report from the relevant authorities.

In another incident, the chief minister expressed deep sorrow over a traffic accident on the Murree Expressway that resulted in the loss of precious human lives. On her directives, district administration and rescue teams reached the site and launched relief operations. She ordered provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured and called for a detailed report, while extending sympathies to the bereaved families.

Separately, the Punjab chief minister expressed grief over the crash of an Army MI-17 helicopter near Muzaffarabad, reportedly caused by a technical fault. She paid tribute to the personnel who embraced martyrdom in the incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. She said the sacrifices of the martyrs would always be remembered and honoured.