Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), in partnership with UNFPA Pakistan and the Women Development Department of the Government of Balochistan, convened a one-day provincial consultation at Serena Hotel Quetta to develop and roll out a domestic violence roadmap aligned with the Balochistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2014. The session, facilitated by Dr. Barkat Shah, aimed to turn legal provisions into practical actions across the province.
The consultation was hosted by Mir Ahmed Sami, Regional Manager and Head of SPO Balochistan, and brought together a wide cross-section of stakeholders including civil society representatives, legal practitioners, government departments, local and international NGOs, media, persons with disabilities, members of the transgender community, and academia. Participants discussed gaps in current services and how the domestic violence roadmap can strengthen prevention and protection mechanisms at the district level.
Jehan Ara Tabassum, Deputy Secretary of the Women Development Department, opened the session stressing the importance of a coordinated and actionable roadmap that delivers measurable results. Bilawal Baloch, UNFPA Representative, underscored the need for collective action and strategic planning to move toward the provincial goal of zero gender-based violence, noting that the roadmap must be practical, adequately resourced and inclusive.
Attendees worked in focused groups to draft concrete recommendations for implementing the domestic violence roadmap, covering referral pathways, capacity building for frontline responders, data collection, and community outreach tailored to local contexts. The collaborative discussions emphasized the inclusion of marginalized groups to ensure that protection measures reach those most at risk.
The closing remarks by Rubina Zahri, Manager of the Women Crisis Center Quetta, highlighted strong engagement from participants and reaffirmed commitments to protect and empower women in line with the provincial leadership’s vision. The consultation set a clear trajectory for follow-up actions and a coordinated roll-out of the domestic violence roadmap across Balochistan.
