A two-day national consultation convened by the National Commission on the Status of Women brought federal and provincial officials together to agree on a unified Gender Parity Framework and reporting mechanism aimed at producing reliable, accurate data to guide policies on women’s education, health, employment and leadership. Government leaders and the Ministry of Human Rights pledged to integrate the new framework into laws and policies, while senior officials warned that international statistics have sometimes misrepresented Pakistan’s situation.
The consultation, held under the auspices of the NCSW, saw provinces and regions present indicators and reports on gender parity. Delegates reached consensus on a common mechanism for gender parity reporting, designed to standardize data collection and ensure comparable, actionable indicators across jurisdictions.
Senator Azam Nazir Tarar reiterated the government’s commitment to the National Gender Parity Framework and said the new system would deliver trustworthy and accurate data. He emphasized that equality must translate into concrete outcomes, saying equality “should be a practical reality, not a promise.”
A federal minister at the meeting cautioned that international statistics can give a misleading picture of Pakistan, underscoring the need for robust domestic data to inform policy and international discussions. Officials said the new framework will help correct misconceptions by providing clearer, locally sourced evidence on gender gaps.
Policymakers said the improved data and reporting mechanisms will strengthen policy formulation aimed at closing gaps in women’s education, health, employment and leadership opportunities. The Ministry of Human Rights expressed determination to embed the framework into national laws and policy instruments to ensure sustained implementation.
Leaders noted the prime minister’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and inclusive participation, and framed the framework as a practical tool to translate that commitment into measurable progress across federal and provincial programs.
