The Gender and Development Studies Department at LCWU commenced operations in 2004, spearheaded by Prof Dr. Sarah Shahid (Head of the Department). Department of Gender and Development Studies at LCWU has been committed not only to providing academic education but also to fostering awareness, assertiveness, self-confidence, and an entrepreneurial spirit among students. Today, our graduates are active citizens excelling both in curricular and co-curricular activities, performing leadership roles at various organizations providing them services in women development departments, founding their own NGOs, successfully managing income generation projects, and contributing meaningfully to civil society. The Department of Gender and Development Studies operates under the leadership of our Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi. The GDS Department at LCWU has established linkages and research collaborations, including signing an LOI with (SERD) AIT, Thailand under the HEC funded project “Strengthening of Faculties of LCWU.” Previously, the GDS Department successfully completed a three-year partnership with George Washington University, USA. It also collaborates with numerous organizations such as SIMORGH, Pink Ribbon, Action Aid, Sangat Organization, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Memorial, UN Women, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Girl Guides Association, SPO, Bedaari, Kashaf Bank, Aurat Foundation, Bargadh, ITA, Rozan, Cyntax Health Project, Circle Punjab Women Protection Authority, Marie Stopes Society, Virtual Women police station, the Women Empowerment Group and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Nationally, it has signed MoUs with various NGOs including the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, SMEDA, APWA, and the Women's Empowerment Group. Following Prof Dr. Sarah Shahid, Dr. Subha Malik led the department, and currently, Dr. Uzma Ashiq Khan is the Incharge of the Department of Gender and Development Studies. Under her leadership, an MOU has been signed with the Women Development Department (WDD). The department is also working on the Women Development Centre (WDC) project initiated by the Women Development Department (WDD), Government of Punjab. Recently, there has been a collaboration between GDS, LCWU, and Forman Christian College:    A chartered University (FCCU) for Capacity Building in Gender Studies under the US-Pakistan University Partnership Grants Program (UPGP) funded by the United States Government and administered by The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). The Department of Gender Studies has been engaged in this project with three other partner institutions: GIFT University, Kinnaird College for Women University, and University of Jhang under UPGP funded by the US Government and administered by USEFP.