PESHAWAR : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with UN Women formally introduced a five-year Women Empowerment Framework (2026–2030) at a provincial event in Peshawar, reaffirming the government’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive development.
Newly launched policy aims to strengthen gender-responsive governance and improve women’s access to justice, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities across the province. It also seeks to enhance women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes and integrate gender considerations into digital innovation, climate resilience, and social protection systems.
Policy was developed through an extensive consultative and evidence-based process led by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department and the KP Commission on the Status of Women, with technical support from UN Women under the Germany-funded Gender Parity Project. The launch ceremony was attended by senior government officials, members of the provincial assembly, civil society representatives, academia, private sector leaders, UN agencies, and development partners.
Speaking at the event, Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam said the Women Empowerment Policy (2026–2030) represents a binding commitment of the provincial government to uphold the rights, dignity, and equal opportunities of women.
He emphasized that the government would ensure effective implementation of the framework through legislative backing, institutional coordination, and dedicated resource allocation, making women’s empowerment a central pillar of the provincial development agenda.
Chairperson of the KP Commission on the Status of Women, Dr. Sumera Shams, highlighted the importance of institutional alignment and sustained monitoring to ensure tangible outcomes. Referring to the vision of Imran Khan for a just and inclusive society, she said the framework reinforces collective responsibility to translate commitments into action.
“The Commission will work closely with all relevant departments and stakeholders to ensure transparent and accountable implementation, and to achieve measurable progress for the women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” she said.
Sher Khan, Rule of Law Expert, termed the policy a significant step toward advancing Sustainable Development Goal 5 and strengthening gender-responsive governance in the province. He reiterated UN Women’s commitment to providing technical assistance and sharing global best practices to support effective implementation.
Officials noted that the framework also addresses emerging priorities, including the needs of merged districts and persistent gender disparities identified in recent provincial assessments.
The ceremony concluded with a panel discussion featuring experts from social, economic, legal, political, digital, and climate sectors, who presented practical recommendations for operationalizing the policy through coordinated departmental work plans, budget integration, and monitoring mechanisms.
Both the provincial government and UN Women reaffirmed their shared resolve to ensure that the Women Empowerment Framework (2026–2030) results in tangible and lasting improvements in the lives of women and girls across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
