Representatives of women's wings from five major political parties have agreed to work together to strengthen their women's wings and institutionalise positions for women in their parties.
Participating in an advisory committee to enhance women's participation in political parties convened by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), senior leaders from women's wings, including MNAs and MPAs, pledged that they will work together to develop a national action plan for minimum standards to strengthen and institutionalise women's role in political parties.
Members of the advisory committee include from Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shagufta Jumani, MPA Azma Zahid Bukhari, MNA Nuzhat Amir Sadiq, MNA Anusha Rahman Khan, from PML Q MNA Nosheen Saeed Khan and Senator Rehana Yahya Baloch, from ANP MNA Jamila Gillani and MPA Shagufta Malik, from MQM Asma Sherwani and MNA Shagufta Sadiq.
Advisory committee members were optimistic about the fact that Pakistan's transition to democratic rule has offered women, various opportunities in government and in their parties they still face some obstacles to full participation and advancement in their parties.
They agreed to work within their own parties and together with women from other parties to develop a National Action Plan that will include minimum standards for women's participation in political parties and strategies to implement them. The plan will be developed at a national workshop to be arranged by NDI with the assistance of the advisory committee.
NDI is a non-profit non-partisan NGO, working to strengthen and expand democracy by providing practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions.