Development & Policy Desk | June 2026 | 4 min read
| ⚡ Quick Takeaways
• Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has announced 650 daycare centres will be established across Punjab by the end of the next fiscal year — with 350 already fully operational and 40 more nearing completion. • The initiative is backed by Rs.1 billion in allocation from the Women Development Department and covers government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions. • Each centre is equipped with educational material, toys, and LCD screens, with trained caregivers assigned — salaries initially paid by the department. • Priority is being given to girls’ colleges and hospitals in South Punjab and remote districts, and the initiative has been extended to Daanish schools province-wide. • An online monitoring system has been introduced to oversee all centres, with Lahore leading at 70 operational centres out of a target of 86. |
The absence of reliable childcare is one of the most frequently cited barriers to women’s workforce participation in Pakistan. Punjab’s daycare centre initiative — now at 350 operational sites and targeting 650 by the end of the next fiscal year — addresses that gap directly, placing government-run childcare at the same locations where women work: the hospital, the university, the government office.
| 650
Target Centres by Next FY |
350
Already Operational |
Rs.1bn
Programme Budget |
What the Centres Offer and How They Work
Each daycare centre is equipped with age-appropriate educational material, toys, and LCD screens to create an engaging environment for children while their mothers are at work. Trained caregivers are assigned to each facility, with their salaries covered by the Women Development Department for the initial period. The centres are not informal drop-off points — they are structured care facilities designed to provide developmental stimulation alongside supervision.
The initiative covers three categories of locations: government offices, hospitals, and educational institutions. This placement is deliberate. Women working in public service, healthcare, and education — three of the largest formal employment sectors for women in Pakistan — now have access to on-site childcare without the additional cost, commute, or logistics of arranging external care. The programme has also been extended to Daanish schools across Punjab, facilitating female teachers and staff at those campuses specifically.
An online monitoring system has been introduced to track the functioning of each centre — providing centralised oversight of attendance, caregiver performance, and facility conditions rather than relying on ad hoc reporting. The system reflects a broader trend in Punjab’s governance approach of using digital monitoring to reduce the gap between announced programmes and verified delivery.
Daycare Centres by District — Current Status
| District | Centres | District | Centres |
| Lahore | 70 (of 86 target) | Bahawalpur | 17 |
| Faisalabad | 20 | Multan | 16 |
| Bhakkar | 21 | Gujranwala | 12 |
| Sheikhupura | 18 | Sargodha | 7 |
| Layyah | 17 | Rawalpindi | 7 |
| Khanewal | 15 | Sialkot | 12 |
| Okara | 14 | Vehari | 12 |
| Nankana Sahib | 13 | Other districts | Ongoing |
Phase Targets and South Punjab Priority
Under the first phase, the government set a target of 390 daycare centres. With 350 operational and 40 under completion, this phase is effectively complete. The expanded total target of 650 represents a significant upscaling for the next fiscal year. Priority in the remaining expansion is being directed to girls’ colleges and hospitals in South Punjab and remote districts — reflecting a recognition that childcare access is most acutely needed precisely where formal support infrastructure is thinnest.
Lahore leads the provincial rollout with 70 centres operational against a target of 86, and includes placements at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the bar councils — extending the initiative beyond purely government institutions into the private and professional sector. In terms of operational coverage outside Lahore, Bhakkar (21), Faisalabad (20), Bahawalpur (17), Layyah (17), and Sheikhupura (18) represent significant deployments in regions that are not always prioritised in provincial social infrastructure programmes.
| 📊 Why On-Site Childcare Changes the Equation for Working Women
Research consistently shows that the cost and logistics of childcare are among the top reasons women exit the formal workforce after having children. Government-funded on-site centres at workplaces eliminate the monthly fee, the separate commute, and the trust barrier that come with external childcare arrangements. For women in public sector roles — often earning mid-range salaries without the benefit of private childcare subsidies — this removes one of the most concrete financial and logistical pressures against staying in employment. |
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article is based on publicly available data and official statements. This content is intended for general informational purposes only.
