Women outperform men in parliament

Contribution of female lawmaker, however, remains largely neglected

ISLAMABAD:

Female lawmakers constitute only 20% of the parliament but they contributed 28% to the parliamentary agenda during 2020-2021. Their performance matched and in some instances exceeded the performance of their male colleagues in both agenda contribution and attendance.

On average, each female MNA attended 76% assembly sittings and sponsored eight agenda items whereas each male MNA attended 60% sittings and sponsored five agenda items.

Each female senator attended 67% sittings and sponsored three agenda items whereas each male senator attended 60% sittings and sponsored four agenda items. Out of 65 non-performing parliamentarians, only seven – four MNAs and three senators – are female.

The female lawmakers – singly or jointly with other lawmakers – sponsored 33% (86 out of 260) private members’ bills, 30% (30 out of 106) resolutions, 56% (48 out of 86) calling attention notices (CANs), and 27% (445 out of 1,668) questions in the National Assembly and the Senate.

They initiated 31% (29 out of 92) motions for debate on issues of public importance and 23% (five out of 21) proposals for amendments in the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

In addition to their contribution to the agenda, female lawmakers also actively participated in the debates on scheduled business and in raising Points of Order and Matters of Public Importance.

However, despite female lawmakers’ remarkable contributions to the agenda, they suffered from neglect. Only eight percent (five out of 59) of the female-sponsored private members’ bills were passed while 54% (32 out of 59) of their bills were referred to the committees after their introduction.

On the other hand, 12% (19 out of 154) male-sponsored private members’ bills completed the three readings and 55% (85 out of 154) were referred to the relevant committees.

Twenty-four percent of the female-sponsored bills were not taken up as compared to 14% male-sponsored bills which remained unaddressed.

Similar was the case with female-sponsored resolutions. Only seven (32%) of the 23 female-sponsored resolutions were adopted as compared to 42 (57%) male-sponsored resolutions.

In comparison with the previous parliamentary year (2019-20), the contribution of female lawmakers to the parliamentary agenda witnessed a decline in 2020-21 from 33% to 28%.

The average attendance of female lawmakers has also decreased since last year; falling from 80% to 76% in the National Assembly, and from 75% to 67% in the Senate.