The National Commission on the Status of Women convened a comprehensive capacity building workshop for its Board Members representing all provinces, aiming to bolster NCSW capacity to deliver measurable results for women across Pakistan. The initiative was led by Chairperson Ume-Laila Azhar with support from UNDP Pakistan under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II programme funded by the European Union, while interactive briefings were facilitated by consortium partner UN Women Pakistan.
Sessions focused on strengthening governance, oversight and accountability so the Board can provide active supervision of the Commission’s priorities. Discussions emphasized strategic planning for both provincial and national progress and explored how enhanced institutional systems can translate policy commitments into tangible improvements in women’s lives.
Experts briefed members on international frameworks that guide NCSW work, including Vision 2025, CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration and the SDGs, highlighting how alignment with these instruments can improve Pakistan’s global standing. Stakeholder engagement and communication strategies were also underscored as essential for ensuring visibility of women’s achievements and challenges and for building sustainable impact at the community level.
Ume-Laila Azhar said the workshop reinforces the Commission’s collective responsibility to ensure that women see tangible progress in their lives. Humaira Zia Mufti, Secretary of the Commission, stressed that upcoming initiatives and priority areas will require consistent Board oversight and active inputs to keep NCSW work impactful and inclusive.
Representatives from development partners echoed the emphasis on institutional strengthening. Khushbakht Sohail of UNDP noted that strong institutions are fundamental to realising women’s rights, while Nabila Malick of UN Women highlighted the role of visibility in driving change. Saman Ahsan added that ending violence against women depends on both institutional capacity and collective accountability.
The workshop is expected to inform the Commission’s next steps in policy formulation and monitoring, reinforcing NCSW capacity to coordinate across provinces, engage stakeholders effectively and translate international commitments into concrete national action.
