WPC Holds Focus Group Discussion on Gender-responsive Budgeting in Parliament
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 20th Aug, 2026) The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the National Assembly, under the chairpersonship of its Secretary, Dr. Shahida Rehmani, MNA, in collaboration with Resource and Support Hub (RSH) Pakistan, held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) here on Thursday.
The consultation brought together Members of Parliament and representatives of RSH Pakistan to discuss strengthening gender-responsive financing, budget tracking, parliamentary oversight, and accountability, particularly in relation to gender-based violence (GBV), safeguarding, and protection.
Key Points:
- Ms. Saba Sadiq, MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, along with several other MNAs and Senators, attended the session.
- Dr. Rehmani emphasized that GRB should be more than a technical exercise. She stressed Parliament’s role in ensuring adequate financing, effective implementation, and tangible outcomes for women and girls of legislative commitments related to gender equality.
- Participants highlighted the need for:
-
A strong monitoring mechanism for GRB allocations within each Ministry and Department.
-
Designation of focal persons on gender budgeting in every Ministry and Department to facilitate coordination and reporting.
-
Incorporating gender considerations during budget deliberations at the Standing Committees level.
-
Regular monitoring to ensure accurate reflection of GRB tagging in actual expenditure and outcomes.
-
- They also recommended:
- Ensuring appropriate representation of women in public-sector schemes, programs, and initiatives with a proposed quota or participation target for women.
Source: WPC (Women’s Parliamentary Caucus)
