A meeting of the Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming was held today, on 19th May 2026 at the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Nafisa Shah, MNA. The Committee reviewed the status of gender-responsive budgeting, institutional accountability for women-related development projects, implementation gaps, and broader issues concerning women’s protection and representation.

 

During the meeting, the Committee examined presentations and briefings by representatives of the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, and NCSW regarding gender mainstreaming in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), gender tagging mechanisms, and women-specific development initiatives. The Committee took serious notice of the absence of senior officers from the Ministry of Human Rights and stressed that ministries must ensure proper representation before parliamentary committees.

The Chair expressed grave concern over the continued delay in the appointment of a permanent Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW). Members observed that the absence of permanent leadership has adversely affected the Commission’s institutional effectiveness, implementation capacity, and representation before parliamentary forums. The Committee emphasized that NCSW is the country’s principal statutory body on women’s rights and must be headed through a transparent and timely appointment process. The Committee directed the concerned authorities to expedite the appointment process without further delay.

 

The Committee voiced serious concern over the extremely low allocation for women-specific development initiatives under the PSDP. During the briefing, the Planning Commission informed the Committee that gender-specific “Gen-3” allocations constituted only around 0.4 percent of the development budget. Members termed the figure alarming and inadequate for a country facing severe gender disparities in education, employment, healthcare, mobility, and economic participation. The Committee observed that despite repeated policy commitments on women’s empowerment, the federal development framework still lacks meaningful and visible investment in women-centered programmes.

 

The Committee further stressed the urgent need for a dedicated Gender Budget Statement to be presented alongside the federal budget in order to institutionalize gender-responsive budgeting. Members emphasized that gender budgeting should not remain confined to technical “tagging exercises” but should result in measurable investments, targeted interventions, and tangible improvements in women’s socio-economic indicators. The Committee directed the Ministry of Planning & Development to strengthen gender analysis mechanisms, enhance monitoring of women-focused projects, and provide periodic progress reports on implementation outcomes.

 

The Committee also deliberated on the rising incidents of honour crimes and other forms of gender-based violence against women across the country. Members noted with deep concern that, despite existing legal protections, implementation gaps, weak enforcement mechanisms, and societal pressures continue to expose women to violence and discrimination. The Committee underscored the need for stronger institutional coordination, improved prosecution mechanisms, awareness campaigns, and stricter accountability to combat honour killings and protect survivors of violence.

 

The Committee further expressed disappointment over the non-participation of NCSW in a recent United Nations conference on the Commission on the Status of Women. Members observed that Pakistan’s principal statutory institution on women’s rights should have been adequately represented at international forums addressing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and global commitments under international conventions. The Committee sought an explanation regarding the reasons for the absence and stressed the importance of proactive international engagement by national institutions working on women’s rights.

 

The Committee reiterated that gender mainstreaming must move beyond policy rhetoric and become an integral part of national planning, budgeting, and governance structures. Members underscored that women constitute more than half of Pakistan’s population and require meaningful representation in development priorities, public expenditure, institutional leadership, and policymaking processes.