Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Ministry of Women's Development, Social Welfare and Special Education - Pakistan

The Ministry of Women's Development was set up in 1979 under the auspices of article 99 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. Whilst the Ministry of Women's Development promotes gender equality and upholds the status of women in Pakistan at the Federal level, Women's Development Departments (WDD) also exist at the local government level.

The functions of the Ministry include:

• Ensuring that women's needs and interests are represented in laws and public policy by various Government bodies and agencies.
• Registration of and assistance to women's organizations.
• Promotion and undertaking of projects that provide special facilities for women.
• Promotion and undertaking of research on the conditions and problems of women.
• Pakistan's representation in international organizations dealing with problems of women in bilateral contacts with other countries.
• Ensuring equality of opportunity in education and employment and fuller participation of women in all spheres of national organizations in the field of social welfare.
• National Planning and co-ordination in fields of social welfare.
• Collaboration and agreements with other countries and international organizations in the field of social welfare.
• Charitable endowments.
• National Council of social welfare grants to voluntary special welfare agencies, Federal agencies and institutions for social welfare research.
• Setting standards of social work and education.
• Training and education of the disabled.
• Administrative Control of National Zakat Foundation.
• Custody protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children involved in crimes and the setting up and improvement of juvenile courts.