Female MPs outperform counterparts

A report released at the International Women's Day reveals that women parliamentarians exhibited remarkable commitment and productivity in shaping legislative priorities, influencing policy discourse, and contributing to parliamentary actions during 2024–2025.

According to the Women Parliamentarians Performance Report (2024-25), compiled by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), women constitute only 17% of the Parliament's current membership (69 of total 399 – 314 MNAs and 85 Senators).

Yet, women legislators contributed nearly half (49%) of the parliamentary agenda – a historic high since 2015-16. Women Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) initiated 55% of the agenda in the lower house, while women Senators accounted for 31% in the upper house.

Women legislators championed a diverse range of public concerns, including institutional accountability, climate resilience, economic inequality, and infrastructural challenges such as energy pricing and internet accessibility.

Their legislative priorities centered on strengthening human rights protections for marginalized groups, advancing healthcare reforms, safeguarding labor rights, and modernizing governance.

Prominently, women legislators proposed amendments to criminal laws to reinforce safeguards for women, children, and minorities, alongside procedural reforms aimed at enhancing inclusivity in parliamentary processes.

"Collectively, these efforts reflect a nuanced understanding of governance that intertwines social justice with institutional efficacy, positioning women legislators as pivotal architects of Pakistan's legislative future," it said.

According to the report, while women legislators contributed a significantly high share of parliamentary business, the rate at which their agenda items were addressed declined compared to previous years.

In 2024-25, the National Assembly addressed 67% of women-sponsored agenda items, down from 69% in 2022–23 and 81% in 2021–22. Similarly, the Senate addressed 77% of women's agenda items, a decline from 85% in 2022-23 and 94% in 2021-22.

"However, this trend reflects a broader stagnation in parliamentary efficiency rather than gender-based disparities, as items sponsored by their male counterparts experienced a comparable decline."

In the National Assembly, 83% of jointly-sponsored items were addressed, compared to 67% of those initiated by women lawmakers and 66% by men.

The Senate exhibited a similar pattern, addressing 80% of jointly-sponsored business and 77% of both women- and men-sponsored agenda items.

Women legislators individually contributed more agenda items than their male counterparts. Each female MNA introduced an average 17 agenda items—over five times the male average of three per legislator.

In the Senate, women proposed 11 items each, nearly double the male average of six.