THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN PARLIMENTARY POLITICS OF PAKISTAN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF 13TH AND 14TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT

Department of History and Pakistan Studies

By: SABA NOREEN

Supervised By:

Academic Level: MPhil

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Abstract

The women of Pakistan make almost 50% of the total population of the country. But only a small percentage of them enjoy the privilege of a proper education. Even fewer have a proper job, the women parliamentarians of Pakistan taking part in active politics and legislation can be counted easily on finger tips. In the contemporary world, the participation of women in the field of politics and legislation is not proportionate with their demographic percentage of the world population. In Europe and other developed countries women have started to take participation in active politics, thus becoming a beacon of light for the women parliamentarians of the other countries. Since the inception of Pakistan women actively took part in politics. Even the first constituent assembly of Pakistan had a women parliamentarian, which reflects the need of women participation in the legislative process. With the time the number of women parliamentarians increased. But they were unable to play a significant role in legislative process.

The women parliamentarians have mainly participated in the legislative process only when their party need their vote in favor of or against any particular bill. This research aims at examining the productivity of women parliamentarians in legislation, and legislative bills (if any) introduced by them. This research also examines the nature and scope of legislative bills introduced by the women parliamentarians. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the fact that the number of women parliamentarians has increased in the 13th and 14th national assembly of Pakistan, but whether this increase in number has any positive impact on the functionality of women parliamentarians in legislative process, and their impact on the female population of the country. The study focused on the comparative analysis of the women parliamentarians of the 13th and 14th national assembly of Pakistan, with respect to their role in legislative process.

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On the direction of the Chairman Senate/President PIPS Board of Governors, the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), has implemented a comprehensive set of measures aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline, operational efficiency, and responsible utilization of public resources, on the same lines as notified and adopted by the Senate and National Assembly Secretariats.

Under the new measures, the Institute has adopted a four-day working week (Monday to Thursday), while introducing a hybrid working model whereby 50% of staff will perform duties from the office and 50% will work remotely on a rotational basis. Employees working from home will remain fully accessible through digital communication platforms and may be required to report to the office on short notice, ensuring uninterrupted institutional functioning.

Significant steps have also been taken to promote energy conservation. These include a target of achieving up to 70% reduction in energy consumption through minimizing unnecessary use of electricity and ensuring that official meetings, trainings, and events are scheduled during daylight hours. Foreign tours are banned and international meetings are being held virtually.

In the transport section, PIPS has introduced strict measures to curtail expenditure and 70% official vehicles have been grounded as part of this initiative.

As part of broader austerity efforts, 20% reduction has been imposed on the non-ERE budget for the fourth quarter of the current financial year. The officers drawing a monthly salary of PKR 300,000 or more, shall surrendered two days salary or 5% to 30% salary on gross as per Federal Government decision.

The Institute has also discontinued all non-essential procurements with immediate effect. Official functions such as dinners and receptions will not be hosted, except in the case of visiting foreign delegations, and even then, strictly in accordance with austerity protocols.

These measures have been implemented with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders.

Under the guidance of President PIPS Board of Governors, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, PIPS remains fully committed to maintaining its core functions of parliamentary support, capacity building, and research while contributing proactively to national austerity and sustainability goals.