Chairpersons of NCSW, PCSW: Special panel concerned over delay in appointment

ISLAMABAD: Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming expressed serious concern over the continued delay in the appointment of the chairpersons of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW). The committee met with MNA Dr Nafisa Shah in the chair at Parliament House on Wednesday. The committee discussed the appointments of chairpersons of the NCSW and the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women. The panel stressed that the appointments should be made without further delay in accordance with the applicable legal framework, so that the Commissions may discharge their mandates effectively and provide strong institutional leadership for the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming has also expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of staff and vacant sanctioned posts in the NCSW and other Women’s Commissions, as well as the lack of basic facilities, pensionary benefits and appropriate incentives for their employees. The committee emphasized that adequate financial, human and institutional resources were essential for the Commissions to effectively discharge their mandates. Dr Nafisa Shah observed that prolonged delay in appointments at the leadership level undermines the effective functioning, institutional authority and continuity of these important statutory bodies. She paid rich tribute to the Chairpersons of the NCSW and Provincial Commissions for their unwavering commitment to advancing and protecting women’s rights, and acknowledged their dedication, courage and resilience in pursuing this national cause. The acting chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) gave a detailed briefing on the Commission’s legal framework, responsibilities, performance, working system, and challenges. The Chairpersons of the Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women also shared their experiences, achievements, institutional challenges, and areas where better coordination and support are needed. The NCSW acting chairperson informed the committee that the NCSW, established under the National Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2012, is mandated to promote and protect women’s rights and advance gender equality. Its functions include reviewing laws and policies affecting women, monitoring their implementation, advising the government on reforms, undertaking research and advocacy, and coordinating with Provincial Commissions and other relevant institutions. Dr Nafisa Shah observed that the effectiveness of the NCSW should be assessed not merely through the number of studies, recommendations or consultations undertaken, but by their tangible impact on the lives of women. She stressed the need for a more proactive, evidence-based and results-oriented approach, particularly in legislative review, policy monitoring, follow-up of recommendations and gender-responsive governance. The committee also emphasised the importance of stronger institutional linkages between the NCSW and Provincial Commissions through regular consultations, information-sharing and coordinated action on cross-cutting issues. It further highlighted the need to strengthen research, data collection, public awareness, complaint-handling and reporting mechanisms, with measurable indicators to assess institutional performance and outcomes. The committee recommended that the NCSW establish a comprehensive monitoring and follow-up mechanism to maintain a record of its recommendations, responses received from concerned Ministries/Divisions and the status of implementation, and submit an annual implementation report to the National Assembly/Committee for effective parliamentary oversight. The committee recommended that the NCSW, in coordination with Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women, establish a structured coordination mechanism comprising regular consultations, information-sharing and joint action on cross-cutting issues to ensure a coherent national framework for gender mainstreaming. The committee recommended that the Ministry of Human Rights, in coordination with the NCSW and Provincial Commissions, strengthen their institutional, financial and human-resource capacity, ensure effective inter-provincial coordination, and establish a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the implementation of their recommendations. The committee recommended that the NCSW and Provincial Commissions should develop accessible, transparent and time-bound mechanisms for receiving and following up complaints relating to violations of women’s rights, enhance public awareness of their mandates, and introduce measurable performance indicators and periodic reporting to assess the effectiveness and impact of their interventions. The meeting was attended by MNAs Shaista Pervaiz, Shahida Rehmani, Shahida Begum, Senator Saadia Abbassi, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani, and Senator Khalida Ateeb, along with the Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, Acting Chairperson, NCSW, and senior officers of the Ministry. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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