Consultative Session with the Women Parliamentary Caucus Balochistan Provincial Assembly

UN Women, under the Pakistan Women Leaders (PWL) Project, held a scheduled consultative session with the Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly on 3rd June 2025 at the office of the Deputy Speaker. The session aimed to review the ongoing and planned activities under the PWL project, receive feedback from WPC members, and strengthen collaboration for gender-responsive governance in the province.
Key Highlights and Decisions
1.⁠ ⁠Discussion and Approval of the Work Plan
•⁠ ⁠The session focused on reviewing the attached PWL project work plan, which was thoroughly discussed and approved by WPC members following their inputs and recommendations. Members emphasized the need for locally impact-oriented actions aligned with the broader gender equality agenda of the province.
2.⁠ ⁠Mentorship Programme
•⁠ ⁠The proposed mentorship programme under PWL was also discussed in detail. Members provided constructive feedback on its scope, structure, and potential areas of impact for young women leaders in the province.
3.⁠ ⁠Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) Requests
•⁠ ⁠The WPC formally proposed the establishment of two dedicated PSDP schemes to support initiatives by WPC members in their respective constituencies. This request is aligned with the commitments made by the Chief Minister of Balochistan to support women legislators in addressing gender-based development gaps. The Chief Minister has also committed to establishing an endowment fund for the WPC Balochistan, enabling the caucus to operate independently and sustainably in the future.
4.⁠ ⁠Institutional Identity and Visibility
•⁠ ⁠The PWL project will provide technical assistance in the design and development of an official logo and letterhead for the WPC, enhancing its identity and visibility within the legislative and public domains.
•⁠ ⁠The WPC resolved to formally engage with the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly to secure a separate office space within the newly inaugurated assembly building (inaugurated by the Chief Minister on 3rd June 2025).
5.⁠ ⁠Capacity Building and Strategic Engagements
•⁠ ⁠It was agreed that key capacity-building initiatives, development of WPC rules of procedure, and leadership training activities will be held in Quetta to build internal expertise and institutional capacity.
•⁠ ⁠These enhanced capacities will also position WPC Balochistan to share experiences and best practices with other provincial caucuses during inter-provincial exchange visits.
6.⁠ ⁠Stakeholder Engagement
•⁠ ⁠WPC members committed to actively facilitating coordination and engagement with key stakeholders including:
 Political party representatives
 Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
 National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)
 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
 Academia and local government institutions
•⁠ ⁠These engagements will be conducted under the framework of the PWL project to promote inclusive governance and women’s political empowerment across Balochistan.