HYDERABAD, July 22: Sindh Social Welfare and Women's Development Minister Saeeda Malik has urged the print media to monitor performance of the government and highlight problems of the people, especially women.

The minister, who earlier visited the Darul Atfaal, Darul Aman, women's jail and other projects run by the social welfare department, was speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Thursday.

She expressed satisfaction over the performance of Darul Aman.

Ms Malik said it would be ensured that hapless women living at Darul Aman and the women's jail were provided with opportunities to earn their living in a respectable manner.

She said that providing vocational training for women was a part of the government's policy and added that she was impressed with the expertise of the Darul Aman women in handicrafts. She said their products would be displayed in Karachi.

She said the women would be provided with material and necessary wherewithal, including sewing machines, for their rehabilitation.

The minister said opportunities would also be provided to rural women who excelled in craftsmanship. She said they would be given raw material and finances for embroidery and other crafts.

She said in furtherance of this objective, her ministry would eliminate the role of middlemen and it would directly purchase finished products from the rural women.

Ms Malik pointed out that the joint family system was fast disappearing in the urban society as a result of which, working mothers were facing a host of difficulties.

She said on experimental basis, a pilot "day centre" project had been launched in Karachi to take care of infants.

She said a women complaint centre had been set up at the Artillery Maidan, Karachi, where complaints of women were registered and their problems were resolved. She said a similar centre had been established at her department, which was linked with the aforementioned complaint centre.

The minister said a plan was on the anvil to set up complaint centres in all district headquarters as women hesitate to go to police stations.

She agreed with a questioner that there was a room for improvement at the Darul Aman, Darul Atfaal and the women's jail. She said she had given instructions to improve things at these places.

She said problems of disabled persons also needed to be addressed on priority basis.

Ms Malik stressed the need for involvement of the society in social work.