Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Human Rights, affirmed full government support for the Gender Parity Framework during his closing remarks at the National Consultation organised by the National Commission on the Status of Women. The two-day meeting saw provinces and regions present indicators and reports that mapped provincial capacity and commitment to parity reporting.
The consultation allowed stakeholders from provincial governments, development partners, civil society and academia to refine a standardised mechanism for provincial parity reporting. Contributions from academics and experts helped shape a reporting approach intended to be leaner, comparable and suitable to become Pakistan’s national benchmark for gender parity.
The Minister stressed that the Gender Parity Framework is a reporting mechanism rather than a catalogue or a wish list. As a tool for comparability across provinces and years, the framework aims to address gaps in data collection and reporting that often lead international datasets to understate Pakistan’s progress.
By generating credible and consistent data through the framework, federal and provincial policymakers will be better placed to design interventions that close gaps women face in education, health, work and leadership. The Minister framed the effort as fulfilling constitutional duties and advancing international commitments while improving the quality of national gender statistics.
The Minister reiterated the Prime Minister’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and assured that the Ministry of Human Rights will support integrating the framework into laws, policies and institutions. With a unified purpose among provinces, regions and partners, the Gender Parity Framework is presented as a potential turning point for closing gender gaps and advancing equality across Pakistan.
