WPC Celebrates Recognition of Women Parliamentary Leaders with Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan Excellence Awards

Islamabad: The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the National Assembly of Pakistan extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, the Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly, and Begum Ishrat Ashraf, Convener of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Punjab, on receiving the prestigious Dukhtaran-e-Pakistan Excellence Awards in recognition of their contributions to women’s empowerment, parliamentary leadership, and inclusive development.

The awards were presented during the closing session of the International Conference on “Inclusive and Resilient Economic Empowerment and Growth — From Poverty to Prosperity,” held in Islamabad, which brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, development partners, and other stakeholders to advance dialogue on poverty alleviation, economic inclusion, and sustainable development.

The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus acknowledges that this recognition reflects the important role women parliamentarians play in strengthening democratic institutions, advancing gender-responsive legislation, promoting social justice, and ensuring that women’s voices and priorities are meaningfully represented in parliamentary decision-making.

As Secretary of the National Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Dr. Shahida Rehmani has contributed to advancing the Caucus’s parliamentary agenda and promoting collective efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. The recognition of the Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly and Begum Ishrat Ashraf, Convener of the Punjab Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, further highlights the valuable contributions of women parliamentary leaders across Pakistan’s legislative institutions.

The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus reiterates its commitment to fostering collaboration among women parliamentarians at the national and provincial levels, strengthening institutional mechanisms for gender equality, and advancing policies that promote women’s economic empowerment, social protection, and equal opportunities.

The Caucus believes that recognising women’s leadership is essential to encouraging greater participation in public life and building a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Pakistan.