Islamabad the 26th June, 2025; The National Assembly Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming, chaired by Dr. Nafisa Shah, MNA, has expressed concern on Pakistan’s ranking at 148 in the Global Gender Gap Index Report 2025. The Committee while recognizing that this ranking was also partly due to flaws in data collection and reporting, stressed upon the need for urgent reforms and policy interventions to address these disparities and make meaningful reforms towards gender equality.
The Committee also expressed concern over the non-implementation of recommendations made by the said Committee on taking concrete steps towards gender equality in Pakistan. In order to implement recommendations of the committee it was recommended to the Federal Government to constitute a Cabinet Committee on Gender mainstreaming so as to give women’s rights political ownership at the federal level. They further emphasized the need for inclusion women parliamentarians in budget and development.
The Committee passed a resolution unanimously while marking the international day of Parliamentarism which is celebrated annually on June 30 in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution adopted in 2018 to recognize the role of Parliaments in national plans and policies and to promote peace, development and democracy worldwide. The Inter-parliamentary Union was celebrating the Day of Parliamentarism with the campaign ‘Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action’ covering the following three thematic areas alongwith 10 key actions:-
Promoting parity in Parliament and politics
Encouraging gender-sensitive institutions
Combating gender-based violence and discrimination
- The Committee also constituted a Sub-Committee with the following composition and TORs:-
i) Senator Saadia Abbasi Convener
ii) Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA Member
iii) Senator Fawzia Arshad Member
iv) Ms. Shahida Begum, MNA Member
Terms of Reference (TORs)
“To review the following existing Family and inheritance Laws and to suggest amendments therein to the extent of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT):-
(i) Dowry and Bridal gifts (restriction) Act, 1976
(ii) West Pakistan Family court Act,1964
(iii) Muslim Marriage Act, 1939
(iv) Guardian and Ward Act, 1880
- The said Sub-Committee will submit its report within one month to the main Committee.
- The meeting was attended by Mr. Aqeel Malik, MNA, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, MNA, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, MNA, Ms. Shahida Begum, MNA, Senator Rubina Qaim Khani, Senator Fawzia Arshad, Senator Khalida Ateeb and Officers of the concerned Ministries/Divisions.
