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Business Recorder
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Free solar electricity to be provided to poor families: Sindh govt increases loan limit for skilled women: Nasir
KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced significant initiatives aimed at empowering skilled women and accelerating rural development across the province. Sindh's Minister for Energy, Planning and Development, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, stated that the loan limit for skilled women has been increased to Rs 1.5 million, while free solar electricity will be provided to poor families in rural areas. Other consumers will be charged only Rs 10 per unit. He made these remarks while addressing an event organized by the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) at the Arts Council Karachi. The event was attended by SRSO Chairperson Naheed Shah, Chairman of the Planning & Development Board Najam ul Hassan Shah, Arts Council President Ahmed Shah, Member Provincial Assembly Siraj Qasim, CEO Muhammad Danial Kalhoro, and several other notable personalities from various sectors. Nasir Hussain Shah stated that the current SRSO program for skilled women is operational in 17 districts of Sindh, but as per the special directive of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the program will be expanded to all districts of the province. This will enable rural women and youth across Sindh to become self-reliant and economically stable. He emphasized that the Sindh government's vision is clear: to empower citizens, eradicate poverty, and create local employment opportunities. This vision, he added, is being practically implemented under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Minister further shared that mini-grid stations will be established in villages to ensure affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply, which will not only help address the energy crisis but also contribute significantly to the promotion of environmentally friendly energy solutions. Commending the efforts of the Sindh Rural Support Organization, Nasir Hussain Shah said that the organization is not only generating employment but also playing a pivotal role in training, skill development, and promoting self-reliance among rural women, youth, and local communities. He affirmed that the Sindh government highly values the services of SRSO and will continue to extend full support to its initiatives. He concluded by saying that the government is committed to accelerating development in underprivileged areas, with the dual aim of improving quality of life and enabling local communities to become self-sufficient through their own resources. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Aid cut and impact
Listen to article The recent cuts to US-backed foreign aid are feared to have devastating impacts on global health, particularly regarding the HIV/AIDS work done so far. In an extremely worrying proposition, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has said the funding cuts could undo all the incredible progress humanity has made tackling AIDS, estimating that it could translate into 2,000 new HIV infections every day. It is also estimated that about 6.3 million people around the world will die of AIDS-related causes in the next four years if alternate funding is not secured. USAID, which has now been subject to Trump's cost-cutting agenda, has also played a crucial role in Pakistan's social sector. An approximate budget of $2.5 billion in USAID funding between 2010 and 2023 has significantly supported healthcare, humanitarian, education, infrastructural and economic programmes in the country. But the funding freeze now particularly risks over 210,000 lives of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, instigating a severe public health crisis. As an example in the context, the Sindh Rural Support Organization, a not-for-profit company working for poverty alleviation in Pakistan, is forced to shut down all three of its US-sponsored health initiatives after aid cessation. This is merely three of 60 US-funded health facilities having suffered closure in the country. In 2024, an HIV-prevention drug, lenacapavir, tested to be 100% effective, was declared 'breakthrough of the year' by leading scientists. Its administration of a single injection per year made it affordable for low-income countries such as Pakistan, but funding cuts have marginally disrupted what was supposed to be the virtual elimination of HIV in the global South as well as the rest of the world. However, despite grave ramifications on public health, many view the crisis as a wake-up call for Pakistan, calling it an opportunity for the country to reallocate its resources, reshape its priorities and be incentivised to move towards self-sufficiency. There is need for the stakeholders to work towards this end.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Empowered women, empowered Sindh: Breaking barriers & transforming lives
During my recent visit to various regions of Sindh, I witnessed a remarkable transformation—stories of resilience, empowerment, and progress that fill the heart with hope and satisfaction. The Sindh government's visionary initiatives have touched countless lives, fostering economic independence and social upliftment. Today, I want to share one such inspiring story—that of Zakia Khanum from the village of Muhammad Saleh Warar in Badin. Just a few years ago, Zakia Khanum's life was a relentless struggle. She, along with other women from her village, toiled as daily-wage laborers on a landlord's farm. Their work changed with the seasons—harvesting tomatoes, collecting paddy, and gathering sunflower seeds. Yet, despite their hard labor, their wages were so meager that affording two meals a day was a constant challenge. A single unforeseen circumstance—a bout of illness or an unexpected day off—meant going to bed hungry. Life was an unending test of endurance. The turning point in Zakia's life came when she and other women in her village came into contact with the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), an NGO funded by the Sindh government. The SRSO team encouraged them to farm independently rather than work on someone else's land. To facilitate this, the women formed a business development group comprising fifteen members and were granted an interest-free loan of PKR 1.39 million. With this financial support, Zakia and her group leased farmland and cultivated tomatoes. SRSO not only provided them with high-quality seeds but also guided them through every step of the cultivation process. A few months later, as their lush tomato fields flourished, these women experienced a rebirth—this time as entrepreneurs, reaping the full rewards of their labor. Their first harvest generated a remarkable profit of PKR 620,000. Inspired by this success, five members of the group branched out to establish their own ventures. The remaining ten, including Zakia, utilized their earnings to cultivate sunflowers in the Rabi season, yielding another PKR 450,000 in profit. When the original landowner reclaimed his fields, they refused to be discouraged. Instead, during the Kharif season, they leased a larger plot and planted rice—securing a net income of PKR 818,000 after covering all expenses. When I met Zakia Khanum, she spoke with immense pride and optimism. This season, they have cultivated muskmelons, with expectations of earning at least PKR 2 million in profit. Her eyes shone with gratitude as she shared how, for the first time in years, no one in their households has gone to bed hungry. Their children now eat nutritious meals and dress in better clothes. The SRSO team continues to support them, guiding them in crop selection, market linkages, and financial planning. Zakia's journey is not just a personal triumph; it is a beacon of hope for countless women. Her success has ignited a movement of economic empowerment, inspiring other women across Sindh to break free from the cycle of poverty. Under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government is materializing the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, fostering self-sufficiency and prosperity among marginalized communities. Comprehensive Empowerment Initiatives The Sindh government's Poverty Reduction Program, implemented through SRSO, extends beyond agriculture. It provides financial assistance and expert guidance in livestock farming, poultry farming, fisheries, handicrafts, and various entrepreneurial ventures, ensuring diverse opportunities for economic stability. Another groundbreaking initiative is the Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF)—the world's largest free housing project, aiming to construct 2.1 million homes in flood-affected areas. In a significant step toward women's empowerment, 1.2 million of these homes will be registered in women's names, with 800,000 women designated as sole beneficiaries. These women have been provided with bank accounts, enabling them to manage financial transactions independently—an achievement that marks a historic shift in their economic agency. The Thar Coal Project is another testament to Sindh's commitment to gender inclusivity. The project has not only transformed the region's energy landscape but has also uplifted its women. Today, in an unprecedented development, women in Thar are driving heavy dumpers, working in solar energy projects, operating reverse osmosis (RO) plants, and taking on various technical roles. Their contributions have been globally recognized, with UNESCO officials acknowledging Sindh's efforts as a rare and exemplary model of women's empowerment. Real Change Comes from Action True progress is not achieved through mere rhetoric but through concrete action—and the Sindh government is proving this through its people-centric policies. The initiatives led by the Chief Minister of Sindh are reshaping the socio-economic fabric of rural communities, ensuring that women are no longer confined to the sidelines but are active participants in economic growth. Zakia Khanum's story is just one among thousands of untold success stories emerging from Sindh's villages. These women, once burdened by poverty and dependency, are now pioneers of change—nurturing hope, fostering economic resilience, and paving the way for a more prosperous, self-reliant Sindh. Sindh's commitment to women's empowerment is not just commendable—it is revolutionary. The province is setting a benchmark for inclusive development, proving that when women are uplifted, entire communities thrive. The dawn of economic independence and social prosperity is spreading across Sindh—one empowered woman, one empowered family at a time.
