The National Commission on the Status of Women brought together its board members from all provinces for a comprehensive capacity building event designed to strengthen governance and oversight at both provincial and national levels. The NCSW workshop, led by Chairperson Ume-Laila Azhar, combined interactive briefings and practical sessions to equip board members for more effective strategic planning.
Supported by UNDP Pakistan under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II programme funded by the European Union, the event emphasised the role of institutional capacity in advancing women’s rights across Pakistan. UN Women Pakistan, acting as the consortium partner, facilitated sessions that linked local priorities to international frameworks including Vision 2025, CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration and the SDGs.
Discussions focused on strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms within the Commission, improving strategic planning for provincial implementation, and engaging stakeholders to ensure sustainable impact. Speakers highlighted the importance of aligning NCSW work with international commitments to raise Pakistan’s global standing on gender issues.
Ume-Laila Azhar said that the workshop reinforces the collective responsibility of board members to translate policy into tangible improvements in the lives of women across the country. Her remarks underscored the expectation that enhanced governance will lead to more visible outcomes at the grassroots level.
Humaira Zia Mufti stressed that the Commission’s upcoming initiatives require active board oversight, and she called for members’ sustained input to keep NCSW’s work impactful and inclusive. Input from provincial representatives was positioned as critical to shaping priority areas and ensuring follow-through.
Khushbakht Sohail from UNDP noted that stronger institutions are central to progress and that building the Commission’s governance capacity moves Pakistan closer to realising women’s rights. Nabila Malick of UN Women highlighted the need to make women’s voices and achievements more visible as a means to drive social inclusion, while Saman Ahsan emphasised that ending violence against women depends on both institutional strength and collective accountability.
The NCSW workshop aimed to leave board members better prepared to oversee implementation, coordinate with provincial stakeholders, and advocate for adherence to national and international commitments. By focusing on capacity building and strategic oversight, the Commission seeks to accelerate measurable progress for women throughout Pakistan.
