The National Assembly’s (NA) Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming on Thursday voiced serious concern over Pakistan’s low ranking-148th-in the recently released Global Gender Gap Index Report 2025.

The committee, chaired by Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA, acknowledged that discrepancies in data collection may have contributed to the ranking but stressed the need for urgent reforms and concrete policy interventions to bridge gender disparities.

The committee also criticized the lack of implementation of its earlier recommendations regarding gender equality and urged the federal government to establish a Cabinet Committee on Gender Mainstreaming.

Such a move, members argued, would ensure political ownership of women’s rights at the highest level.

They also emphasized greater involvement of women parliamentarians in budgetary and development processes. Marking the International Day of Parliamentarism, observed globally on June 30, the committee unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to gender equality.

The resolution aligns with this year’s Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) campaign theme, ‘Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action,’ which focuses on three key areas: Promoting parity in parliament and politics, Encouraging gender-sensitive institutions, and Combating gender-based violence and discrimination.

In a significant step forward, the committee also formed a sub-committee to review and propose amendments to key family and inheritance laws in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The sub-committee will be led by Senator Saadia Abbasi as convener and includes Ms Munaza Hassan, MNA, Senator Fawzia Arshad, and Ms. Shahida Begum, MNA, as members.

Terms of Reference (TORs) for the sub-committee include review of the following laws: Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976, West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964, Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, and Guardian and Wards Act, 1880.

The sub-committee has been tasked to submit its report within one month. The meeting was attended by several parliamentarians including Mr Aqeel Malik, Ms Shaista Pervaiz, Ms. Shahida Rehmani, Senator Rubina Qaim Khani, Senator Khalida Ateeb, and officials from relevant ministries and divisions.