"Women political participation plays pivotal role in deepening democracy. Over the last two decade huge steps have been made towards greater female political representation at global level. A few countries have even crossed the 50% share of women representation in legislative houses.
At South Asian level, Nepal and Afghanistan have made progress in this regard, but in Pakistan this ratio of women political representation is decreasing not only in the National and provincial assemblies but also in local govt institutions. If Women are given equal share of political participation in legislative houses, federal, provincial cabinets and central executive committees of the political parties, they have the capacity to bring about positive change in the country".
These views were expressed by speakers at a conference "Punjab Local Govt Laws and Women Political Participation", organized by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) here on Tuesday, at a local hotel. A large number of women and representatives of civil society joined the event. A new report by WISE "Gender Audit of Women Political Representation in the Legislative Assemblies" was also launched on this occasion.
Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director WISE, speaking on the occasion said, over the last two decade huge steps have been made towards greater political representation of women. Presenting facts and figures of WISE new report, she said, even few countries have crossed the 50% ratio of women in parliament. Rwanda is wonderful example in this regard with 61.3% women ratio, followed by Cuba with 53.2% and Bolivia with 53.1%.
Although India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were ruled by women leaders in near past but the women representation in these countries remains very low as compare to many other countries. At South Asian level, she said, Nepal is on top with 32.7% women representation in the Parliament, followed by Afghanistan 27.3 %, Bangladesh 20.6%, Pakistan 20.2%, Bhutan 14.9%, India 12.6%, Sri Lanka 5.3 % and Maldives 4.7%.
Talking about the situation in Pakistan, she highlighted that the highest ratio of women representation in National Assembly of Pakistan was 22% in 2008-13. In the present assemblies it is around 19%. There is no women representation in Provincial cabinets of KP and Baluchistan, she lamented.
Regarding women representation in the core committees of the mainstream political parties, she told there are 2 women in the 27-member central executive committee of PML-N, 1 member in 21-member CEC of PTI, 5 women 35-member CC of PPP, 1 member in 19-member MPL-Q CEC, 2 women in MQM 35-member committee and 2 women in 12-member CEC of ANP. She demanded at least 33% share in legislative houses, federal and provincial cabinets and central executive committees of the political parties.
Zahid Islam, LG Expert, throwing light on the twin LG laws; Punjab Local Govt Act 2019 and Punjab Village Panchayat & Neighborhood Councils Act 2019, said the ratio of women representation at different tiers has been further reduced. It is good that minimum age for candidates has reduced from 25 to 18 years but there was still need for the provincial govt to review these laws to make them more pro-people.
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