ISLAMABAD - Women parliamentarians, civil society actors, and policy experts gathered at a high-level roundtable titled “Raising Her Voice in Politics”, jointly hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC).
Parliamentarians from National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan PPP, PML-N, PTI, JUI, and MQM-P put spotlight on Pakistan’s persistent gaps in women’s political representation and called for immediate party and legislative reforms.
In her welcome remarks from Chairperson, Women Parliamentarians Caucus, MNA Shahida Rehmani talked about not only including women in political parties but empower them to shape their own futures.
Dr Rehmani further stated, “Despite the 5% quota requirement under the Elections Act 2017, compliance remains weak, these figures reflect not just underrepresentation but active gatekeeping within party structures.” Dr Rehmani also emphasized that women face systemic challenges within political parties and called for urgent solutions to ensure gender parity. She underscored the need for a binding 33% representation in all new political formations and highlighted gender equality policy as the critical path forward.
As per the SDPI research, Pakistan’s demographic reality further underscores the urgency of reform. Women make up 49% of the country’s population, with 59 million registered female voters as of 2024. However, only 42% of women cast their votes in the last general election, a 5% decline from 2018. Despite this numerical strength, women’s influence in political decision-making remains minimal.
An SDPI analysis of the constitutions of 19 political parties represented in Parliament found that only five parties complied with the 5% women’s general seat nomination requirement. Notably, the Balochistan National Party and Awami National Party included 9 and 10 women, respectively, in their Central Executive Committees — highlighting a few examples of positive practice, though far from the norm.
To better understand the legal framework, SDPI reviewed the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 and the Elections Act 2017. While the 2013 amendment to PPO 2002 enabled the introduction of a 5% nomination quota for women on general seats, another provision — calling for 33% representation of women political workers in all elected and non-elected bodies of political parties — was sidelined during legislative discussions and remains unimplemented.
In light of these findings, Qasim Shah, Deputy Executive Director SDPI, stated that first Section 208 of the Elections Act 2017 should be amended to require political parties to ensure at least 33% representation of women as office-bearers in both elected and non-elected bodies — proportionate to the female population. Second, Section 202 of the same Act, which mandates a minimum of 2,000 members for party registration, should be revised to include a mandatory requirement of 33% female membership, ensuring gender-inclusive party formation from the outset.”
Parliamentarians and Senators present at the roundtable welcomed these recommendations and voiced their support for institutional reform, gender audits, and accountability within political parties. They emphasized the need for a shift away from tokenism toward meaningful inclusion. Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, said, “It’s not enough to offer symbolic seats or fulfill quotas on paper. For democracy to be inclusive, women must be empowered to lead from the front.” Dr. Suleri urged an amendment to the Election Commission Act 2019 to enforce women’s inclusion in political processes.
In her closing remarks, MNA Tahira Aurangzeb of PML-N praised SDPI’s efforts and reaffirmed the Caucus’s commitment to progressive reforms. “Women should comprise 50% of all political parties,” she said. “They not only bring inclusivity but also utilize development funds more effectively. Punjab’s progress under female leadership is testament to that.”
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