ISLAMABAD, Mar 04 (APP):The Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) issued a strong call for women’s equal participation in national and global decision-making, stressing that empowering women is both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity for Pakistan’s political, social, and economic progress.
The statement highlighted the urgency of inclusive governance at a time when national and global challenges demand diverse leadership and gender-responsive policymaking frameworks.
Quoting Hira Bilal, International Delegate of YPP, the statement said women are leaders, innovators, and changemakers whose meaningful participation in policymaking is critical to addressing complex global challenges.
She emphasized that sidelining women weakens national resilience, while empowering them enhances democratic strength and improves Pakistan’s credibility and standing on the global stage.
As a youth-led platform, YPP reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, citing its sustained engagement in diplomacy and international advocacy.
Over recent years, young Pakistani women associated with YPP have represented the country at the United Nations and the Commonwealth, participating in delegations, sidelines, and formal interventions to project Pakistan’s narrative through advocacy and dialogue.
The statement also underlined the importance of women’s participation within Pakistan’s legislative framework, acknowledging Parliament’s role in creating pathways for women’s engagement in lawmaking.
YPP commended the efforts of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus for advancing gender-responsive legislation and ensuring that women’s voices remain integral to national policy discourse, noting that empowering women today will shape the justice, stability, and prosperity of tomorrow.
Recalling Pakistan’s history of women’s leadership, the forum cited Benazir Bhutto, the first female prime minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world, as a defining example of visionary and courageous leadership.
It added that this legacy continues with leaders such as Maryam Nawaz, Punjab’s first female chief minister, whose rise reflects the gradual dismantling of long-standing barriers to women’s leadership in governance.
In conclusion, the Youth Parliament of Pakistan urged national and international stakeholders to ensure women’s equal representation in decision-making, strengthen legal protections for women’s rights and workplace equality, and prioritize girls’ education and leadership development.
The forum also called for amplifying women’s voices in climate action, peacebuilding, and economic policymaking, reaffirming its commitment to advocating gender-responsive policies and building a future where every woman and girl can participate fully, freely, and fearlessly in shaping her destiny.