WPC General Assembly Meeting – 25 June 2025
A meeting of the General Assembly of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) was held on 25 June 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairpersonship of MNA Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Secretary WPC. The meeting was attended by MNA Ms. Shahida Begum, Treasurer WPC; MNA Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Convenor of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR); MNA Ms. Rana Ansar, Parliamentary Secretary Water and Resources; MNA Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Somroo; MNA Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli; MNA Ms. Sofia Saeed Shah; MNA Ms. Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, MNA Ms. Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Ms. Zainab Mehmood Baloch; MNA MS. Samina Khalid Ghurki; Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur; Senator Fawzia Arshad, among other honourable Members of the National Assembly.
The General Assembly paid a heartfelt tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her birth anniversary, acknowledging her unparalleled contributions to democracy and the empowerment of women in Pakistan.
The participants deliberated upon the prevailing discrimination in the allocation of development funds and called for transparent and equitable distribution mechanisms. The Annual Plan of WPC was appreciated by the Members as a significant step towards institutionalizing gender-responsive planning.
The Members proposed that NADRA must proactively facilitate women, particularly in underserved and rural areas, to ensure their access to CNIC registration. It was also proposed that a comprehensive booklet be developed encompassing all laws related to women, with particular emphasis on laws governing women’s right to inheritance.
The General Assembly appreciated the approach of the Sindh Assembly where no discrimination exists in the allocation of development funds. It was proposed that a Women’s Centre should be established in every city to serve as a resource and support facility for women.
The Members further emphasized the importance of functional Harassment Committees in all institutions. Where such committees are inactive, it was agreed that immediate action must be taken to activate them.
With regard to early child marriage, the Members proposed that engagement with religious scholars (Ulema) is essential, and consensus should be built through inclusive dialogue. It was also proposed that female Members of the National Assembly must immediately seek a meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister to discuss the issue of development funds.
Lastly, it was decided that an international conference be organized, bringing together Ulema, scholars, and professionals from across the Islamic world to deliberate on pressing issues concerning women and to foster a shared vision for inclusive development and legal reform.
