Islamabad: The European Union-funded Pakistan Women Leaders (PWL) Project on Tuesday launched its flagship mentorship programme aimed at strengthening women's political leadership and expanding opportunities for aspiring women leaders to participate effectively in political and public life.
The programme, titled "Leading the Future: Empowering Women Through Mentorship in Political Leadership," is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA).
The launch ceremony was attended by parliamentarians, representatives of political parties, members of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, civil society organizations, academia, media professionals, lawyers, women entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, representatives of the transgender community and youth leaders.
Welcoming the participants, UN Women Deputy Country Representative Fahmida Iqbal said the initiative represented an investment in Pakistan's democratic future by cultivating women's leadership through opportunity, trust and intergenerational partnerships.
She said the programme would reach more than 1,700 aspiring women leaders from 57 districts through leadership boot camps designed to build knowledge, confidence and professional networks. From this group, 170 emerging women leaders would be selected for intensive mentorship, peer learning and community engagement.
Acting Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, Dr. Sebastien Lorion, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusive governance, saying equal participation of women in politics was essential for a stronger democracy.
Chief Executive Officer of TDEA Shahid Fiaz described the mentorship programme as an investment in the next generation of women leaders, emphasizing that women must have a proportionate role in decision-making and leadership of public institutions.
Director General Gender and Social Inclusion at the Election Commission of Pakistan, Nighat Siddique, said institutional support and structured mentorship would help transform political aspirations into effective public leadership.
The launch also marked the opening of nominations for the mentorship programme, which will support young women, local councillors, political activists and civil society representatives, with special focus on women from marginalized communities, minorities, persons with disabilities and rural areas.
In her concluding remarks, Women Parliamentary Caucus Secretary Dr. Shahida Rehmani encouraged young women to pursue leadership roles, stating that Pakistan's future required their energy, innovation and commitment to public service.