The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) has completed the final draft of the Women Empowerment Policy 2026-2030 after a session of its technical committee chaired by Dr. Samira Shams at the commission office in Peshawar. The draft was presented in detail and members provided input on objectives, implementation mechanisms and institutional roles to enhance women’s social, economic and political participation across the province.
The technical committee meeting included participation from committee members such as Ayesha Bano from local government, Ikram Allah Khan as a board member of KPCSW, Secretary Shazia Atta, Syeda Nadrat from the Social Welfare Department, Zainab Khan from UN Women KP and other representatives. The discussion examined alignment of the Women Empowerment Policy with existing provincial policies and the Constitution of Pakistan, with emphasis on reducing gender discrimination for women of all ages.
Members reviewed proposals to protect women’s inheritance rights under current laws and measures to guarantee access to public services and economic rights. The draft also incorporates measures to improve representation of women in the provincial cabinet setup, local government bodies, budget processes, consultative forums, standing committees and planning mechanisms to ensure institutional accountability.
The committee noted that effective implementation of the Women Empowerment Policy will require coordinated action across departments to improve access to justice, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and deliver short-term, mid-term and long-term benefits for women’s welfare and empowerment in the province.
Following technical committee approval, the draft will be circulated to relevant departments for verification and then presented to the provincial cabinet. Subject to cabinet approval, the policy is scheduled for formal launch on 12 February to coincide with National Women’s Day. Under the leadership of Dr. Samira Shams, KPCSW completed the draft within a three-month timeframe, marking a significant step toward expanding protections and opportunities for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
