First meeting of “Steering Committee for Women Empowerment” constituted by Chief Minister Punjab was held on 11.12.2018 at Women Development Department, under the convenership of Minister for Women Development Punjab. The meeting was attended by Mrs. Irum Bukhari, Secretary Women Development Department, Ms. Sadia Sohail (MPA), Ms. Seemabia Tahir (MPA), representative of Industries, Commerce & Investment Department, School Education Department, Punjab Commission on the Status of Women and Aurat Foundation. Secretary Women Development briefed the Steering Committee members about theperformance of the department with reference to previous empowerment packages announced for women since the inception of the department in 2012. While disclosing the 100 days plan of WDD under the new political dispensation, Mrs. Irum Bukhari stated that the department had realigned its targets with Punjab Growth Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals for achieving inclusive sustainable socio economic empowerment of women in the Punjab. Three goals had been earmarked under the redefined target for effective participation of women in socio economic life. She further explained that for service delivery, WDD did not intend to continue investing in brick and mortar for addressing residential issues of womenworking away from home and instead, the mushroom growth of henceforth unregulated private hostels for women would be channeled by the department for its transformation into an emerging service sector in Punjab. Published in Daily Times, December 13th 2018.