Concern voiced over delay in NCSW chairperson’s appointment

Concern voiced over delay in NCSW chairperson’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming on Wednesday expressed concern over the continued delay in appointing chairpersons of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, saying prolonged vacancies were affecting the functioning and institutional continuity of the statutory bodies. Chairperson of the committee Dr Nafisa Shah said the appointments should be made without further delay under the relevant legal framework to enable the commissions to effectively discharge their mandates for the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The committee also expressed concern over shortages of staff and vacant sanctioned posts in the NCSW and other women’s commissions, besides inadequate basic facilities, pension benefits and incentives for employees. It stressed that adequate financial, human and institutional resources were necessary for the commissions to perform their functions effectively. The committee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Dr Nafisa Shah and received a briefing from the acting chairperson of the NCSW on its legal framework, mandate, performance and operational challenges. Chairpersons of the provincial commissions also briefed the committee about their experiences, achievements and institutional difficulties. The acting NCSW chairperson told the committee that the commission, established under the National Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2012, was mandated to promote and protect women’s rights and advance gender equality. Its responsibilities include reviewing laws and policies affecting women, monitoring their implementation, advising the government on reforms, conducting research and advocacy, and coordinating with provincial commissions and other institutions. Dr Shah said the performance of the NCSW should not be judged merely by the number of studies, recommendations and consultations it undertook, but by their tangible impact on women’s lives. She called for a proactive and results-oriented approach, particularly in legislative review, policy monitoring and follow-up of recommendations. The committee recommended that the NCSW establish a comprehensive monitoring mechanism to maintain records of its recommendations, responses from ministries and divisions, and the status of implementation. It proposed that an annual implementation report be submitted to the National Assembly or the committee for parliamentary oversight. It also called for a structured coordination mechanism between the NCSW and provincial commissions through regular consultations, information-sharing and joint action on issues affecting women across the country. The Ministry of Human Rights was asked to work with the NCSW and provincial commissions to strengthen their institutional, financial and human-resource capacity and improve coordination. The committee further recommended transparent and time-bound mechanisms for receiving and following up complaints regarding violations of women’s rights, greater public awareness of the commissions’ mandates and measurable performance indicators. MNAs Shaista Pervaiz, Shahida Rehmani, Shahida Begum, Senator Saadia Abbassi, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani and Senator Khalida Ateeb attended the meeting along with senior officials. Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026