Islamabad: According to the Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming, The Gender Mainstreaming Committee meeting convened on Monday in Parliament House, Islamabad to address pressing concerns regarding the representation of women within the Federal Government. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders and representatives from various sectors, focused on the alarming statistic that women currently constitute only 6.8 percent of the total federal workforce, falling significantly short of the mandated 10% quota, and far behind the 33 percent objective. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Nafisa Shah with Ms. Shahida Begum MNA, Mr. Aqeel Malik MNA, Syed Hussain Tariq MNA and Khwaja Izhar ul Hassan MNA and Senator Rubina Qaim khani attended the meeting.

3. The Committee expressed serious concern over the non-implementation of the women's quota, which is designed to promote gender equality and empower women in decision-making roles within the Government. In light of these findings, the Committee unanimously recommended that the Establishment Division develop a clear policy and action plan to ensure the implementation of the 10% quota at both National and Provincial levels.

4. 'Women's representation in government is not just a matter of equity; it is essential for effective governance and the development of policies that address the needs of all citizens,' said Dr. Nafisa Shah, Chairperson of the Gender Mainstreaming Committee. 'We must take decisive action to ensure that women have a seat at the table and that their voices are heard in the decision-making processes.'

5. In addition to the concerns regarding workforce representation, the Committee highlighted the lack of mechanisms within the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) to track the impact of projects and proposals on women. The absence of such tracking measures undermines the Government's commitment to gender-responsive budgeting and the integration of gender considerations into development planning.

6. The Committee called for the establishment of a robust framework to monitor and evaluate the impact of PSDP initiatives on women, ensuring that their needs and perspectives are adequately addressed in development projects.

7. 'Failing to consider the impact of development projects on women not only perpetuates inequality but also hinders overall progress,' We must ensure that all government initiatives are designed with a gender lens, promoting sustainable development that benefits everyone.' The Committee members stated.

8. Finally the Committee called for an effective mechanism at the Centre and in provinces to address out of 25 million out of school children most of whom are girls, which is among the highest in the world. The Committee recommended that the Education emergency focus on out of school children and gender disparity as key challenges to be resolved through whole of Pakistan approach.

9. The Gender Mainstreaming Committee remains committed to advocating for policies that promote gender equality and empower women in all spheres of life. The recommendations put forth during on Monday's meeting will be formally submitted to the appropriate Government bodies for prompt action.