A delegation from Pakistan’s Women Parliamentary Caucus visited the UK Parliament from 25–27 November 2025, led by Dr. Shahida Rehmani, MNA, to share experience on women’s political participation, inclusive governance and cross-party collaboration.
Speakers from the Pakistani delegation led focused sessions that introduced parliamentary processes and practical approaches to coalition building. Dr. Shahida Rehmani and Ms. Nikhat Shakeel Khan outlined legislative procedures and caucus practice, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar discussed cross-party collaboration, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar reflected on the challenges facing newly elected women MPs, Ms. Mussarrat Asif Khawaja spoke on parliamentary standards, Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan explained evidence-gathering, Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi addressed online abuse and violence against women in politics, and Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb joined Dr. Rehmani to present on gender-responsive budgeting.
Ms. Minail Khan, Chief Technical Advisor to the National Assembly, briefed UK parliamentarians on the evolution of Pakistan’s Women Parliamentary Caucus, tracing its roots from early female leadership to formal establishment in 2008 and outlining key milestones, institutional growth and the persistent challenges the caucus has navigated.
UK parliamentarians who attended the exchange said the delegation’s experience strengthened their determination to establish a women’s caucus in the UK, with several noting they wished more colleagues had taken part. Delegates reported that the visit deepened mutual understanding and showcased practical models for advancing women’s leadership in legislatures.
The visit concluded with the signing of a joint communique between the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harriet Harman KC, and the Pakistani delegation. The agreement commits both sides to champion women’s rights and agency, advance legislation and policies that support equality, eradicate violence and discrimination, promote women’s political participation and leadership, and work toward universal access to education and healthcare for women and girls.
“This exchange is a testament to the power of peer-to-peer learning and shared commitment to building stronger, more inclusive legislatures,” Dr. Rehmani said, expressing confidence that the visit would strengthen parliamentary leadership and expand opportunities for women across democratic institutions.
The delegation’s programme and the joint communique mark a milestone in UK–Pakistan parliamentary relations and offer a replicable model for sustained cooperation among women leaders and allies seeking to advance gender equality in parliaments worldwide.
