MNA Shahida Rehmani. Photo: Facebook
ISLAMABAD:
Women lawmakers – Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Senators – have stressed the need for greater participation of women in legislation aimed at protecting the fairer sex from abuse, harassment and injustice.
The National Assembly’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) launched its Annual Report 2024-25 at Parliament House, Islamabad. The launch ceremony, convened by MNA Shahida Rehmani, was moderated by NA Special Secretary Syed Shamoon Hashmi.
The 2024-25 Annual Report highlighted the major achievements, initiatives and challenges that the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus tackled during the year.
In her keynote address, Shahida acknowledged the contribution of WPC members to advancing gender-relevant legislation, strengthening parliamentary oversight of gender issues and expanding the caucus’s reach across party lines.
She reaffirmed the WPC’s commitment to ensuring that gender-sensitive legislation remains a central part of the parliamentary agenda.
Among the notable achievements highlighted was the convening of Pakistan’s first Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) workshop on gender-sensitive legislation after a gap of four years with the participation of international parliamentarians.
The report presentation highlighted several landmark initiatives, including the establishment and strengthening of provincial and legislative chapters of WPC in all four provincial and legislative assemblies, achieved for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
On the occasion, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani suggested the formation of parliamentary committees to thoroughly review the harassment legislation and remedy existing gaps.
MNA Tahira Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of a non-partisan approach to gender equality and highlighted the role of parents in promoting respect and equality from an early age.
MNA Munaza Hassan emphasized on improved coordination between national, provincial and legislative assemblies to ensure coherence among all WPC chapters.
MNA Samar Haroon Bilour highlighted the impact of terrorism and security challenges on women, especially those who have lost male family members, and emphasized the inclusion of women lawmakers in economic and security-related decision-making.
She also called for increasing women’s job quotas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces.
Senator Rubina Khalid advocated internship opportunities for deserving law and social science students in parliamentary and legislative bodies.
She emphasized on adopting international best practices to curb cybercrime along with increased Senate representation in the WPC Working Council.
MNA Farrukh Khan highlighted the importance of gender balance and mutual support between men and women for sustainable empowerment.
Senator Khalida Ateeb emphasized strict implementation of laws related to protection, welfare and rehabilitation of women.
MNA Asma Arbab Alamgir stressed the need to allocate adequate funds to women parliamentarians and called for the creation of dedicated government agencies to protect vulnerable women and children, especially in the face of increasing human trafficking.
