On March 6, 2026 in Islamabad, the Women Parliamentary Caucus convened by Dr. Shahida Rehmani launched the Women Parliamentary Portal and hosted a high-level dialogue on women’s political participation in partnership with UN Women and the European Union.
Dr. Shahida Rehmani highlighted that while constitutional quotas increased women’s representation, the emphasis must now shift to meaningful engagement and effective participation. She described the Women Parliamentary Portal as a digital platform to strengthen coordination between national and provincial caucuses, showcase legislative contributions by women lawmakers, and expand spaces for policy dialogue and citizen engagement.
The Chief Guest, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, underlined that inclusive representation is a democratic necessity and said sustainable development depends on political and economic empowerment of women. He recalled reforms introduced during his tenure, including the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act 2010, the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011, and the Women in Distress and Detention Fund (Amendment) Act 2011, and he pointed to initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Programme and the establishment of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law & Justice, praised the role of women across party lines and at constituency level, noting women do not only occupy reserved seats but actively contest and serve. He welcomed the Women Parliamentary Portal as a forward-looking tool to promote coordination, knowledge sharing, and gender-responsive legislation across federal and provincial assemblies.
The launch included a panel moderated by Syed Shamoon Hashmi and featuring provincial and federal legislators who called for greater financial and political support for women parliamentarians and for dismantling structural barriers that limit participation from middle- and lower-middle-class backgrounds. Dr. Nafisa Shah voiced concern over the martyrdom of schoolgirls in Iran and urged international action to protect women and children.
The Women Parliamentary Portal offers legislative mapping of pro-women laws, gap analysis with recommendations, mentorship programs and online courses, and tools for gender-responsive budgeting. Designed as a long-term institutional resource, the Portal preserves institutional memory, links citizens with legislators, and is bilingual and accessible to visually impaired users to ensure inclusive access.
The event drew MNAs Kiran Haider and Shahnaz Saleem Malik, UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, Philipp Oliver from the EU Delegation, Jamshed Kazi of UN Women, civil society members, youth representatives and media, reflecting cross-sector support for strengthening women’s political participation in Pakistan.
