Women’s low representation in govt sector raises concerns

ISLAMABAD: In a grim revelation of gender disparities within Pakistan’s federal government, a special committee chaired by Dr. Nafisa Shah has highlighted the abysmally low representation of women across various governmental bodies and departments.

According to the data presented during a meeting of the Gender Mainstreaming Committee, women’s representation remains below the targeted 33 percent benchmark. The statistical breakdown reveals alarming statistics; in the federal secretariat, women constitute only 8.08 percent of total employees; constitutional bodies show a mere 5.30 percent female representation; departments and subordinate offices have just 5.92 percent women; autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies report only 5.71 percent female participation.

Further, out of 357 federal entities, only 41 boards have achieved the 33 percent women representation target,88 board constitutions are currently in process and 132 entities still have no established board.

The Gender Mainstreaming committee has proposed several key recommendations. It has sought completion of constitution of boards with 33 percent women representation within three months and provision of amenities for women in all public offices. Further, it has recommended that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics be strengthened for accurate gender parity data collection.

The committee has also noted several positive steps, including establishment of day care centers in all public sector entities, provision of separate prayer halls, washrooms, and common rooms in 42 ministries/divisions and proposals to convert underutilized departmental buses into dedicated transport services for women employees in Islamabad.