Pakistan, June 11 -- 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...