Reliable Data, Effective Policymaking and Institutional Coordination Essential for Gender Equality: Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi
QUETTA: Balochistan’s Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development, Dr Rubaba Khan Buledi, has stressed that providing women with equal opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, economic empowerment and decision-making is essential for sustainable social and economic development.
She said promoting gender equality required more than policies and announcements, emphasising the need for reliable data, evidence-based planning and effective institutional measures.
She expressed these views while addressing a two-day training workshop in Quetta on the National Gender Parity Indicators Framework for relevant stakeholders from Balochistan. The workshop was organised through a collaboration between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Balochistan government’s Women Development Department, the National Commission on the Status of Women and UNICEF.
Dr Rubaba said the National Gender Parity Indicators Framework was an important tool for identifying disparities between women and men across different sectors, measuring progress and translating policy objectives into practical action.
She explained that the framework would enable a systematic assessment of gender equality in areas including education, healthcare, economic opportunities, political participation, leadership and decision-making.
Highlighting the challenges faced by women in Balochistan, she said the availability of reliable gender-disaggregated data was particularly important for the province.
She stressed that policies must take into account differences between urban and rural areas, districts and various social groups to ensure that they reflected ground realities and provided women with equal opportunities for development.
Citing the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ Labour Force Survey 2020-21, Dr Rubaba said the labour force participation rate among women aged 15 and above in Balochistan was approximately eight per cent, compared with 43.6 per cent among men.
She said the significant gap highlighted the need to improve women’s economic participation. The Balochistan Gender Equality Report 2024 also underscored the importance of expanding women’s involvement in economic activities and increasing employment opportunities.
The provincial adviser said women’s economic empowerment required skills development, business opportunities, access to financial resources, safe working environments and institutional facilities conducive to women’s participation.
She said the Balochistan government was committed to strengthening initiatives aimed at improving women’s education, healthcare, protection and economic empowerment.
Dr Rubaba also emphasised that preventing gender-based violence, protecting women’s legal rights, ensuring their inheritance rights and increasing their representation in public and administrative institutions were collective responsibilities.
She called for coordinated efforts among government departments, educational institutions, civil society organisations and development partners to achieve these objectives.
Highlighting the importance of the training workshop, she said strengthening the capacity of officials and relevant stakeholders would improve their ability to collect and analyse gender-related data and compile it in accordance with national indicators.
She added that the process would help present a more accurate picture of Balochistan’s situation at the national level, assess the effectiveness of policies and development projects, and support better allocation of resources.
Dr Rubaba appreciated the cooperation of UNFPA, UNICEF and the National Commission on the Status of Women, saying joint institutional efforts were essential for women’s development and empowerment.
She reaffirmed that the Women Development Department would continue its efforts to promote gender equality, protect women’s rights and ensure their effective inclusion in the national and provincial development process.
