Islamabad: In a national debate organized by the Center for Research and Dialogue on gender budgeting, speakers highlighted the issues faced by women in Pakistan in sectors like health, education, employment, and political representation, emphasizing gender budgeting as an effective solution to address these challenges.

Speaking at the debate, Dr. Sajid Amin Javed stated that gender budgeting means considering the needs of women, men, and marginalized groups when preparing the government’s budget. The aim is the fair distribution of resources to promote gender equality and provide equal opportunities and facilities to every individual in society. He clarified that this budget is not separate for men and women but a means to ensure the equitable use of public funds.

Renowned journalist Sabookh Syed pointed out that the literacy rate among girls in Pakistan remains low, and through gender budgeting, the government can allocate more funds for girls’ schools, scholarships, and transport facilities. Highlighting maternal and child health issues, he stated that gender budgeting could help improve funding for maternal health centers, family planning, and awareness campaigns related to women’s health.

Prominent social activist Rashida Doodhwala, in her presentation, said that gender budgeting could facilitate the establishment of women’s police stations, domestic violence cells, and shelter homes for women. She cited the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) as a successful example, providing financial assistance to low-income women and empowering them.

Maira Imran, a member of the Women Journalists Association, shed light on the challenges in effectively implementing gender budgeting, mentioning the lack of data, research, and political will as the major obstacles. She added that the inability to properly understand women’s issues and integrate them into the budget is also a significant problem. Journalists and civil society members were also present on the occasion.

Concluding the debate, participants stressed the importance of gender budgeting in a country like Pakistan, where gender inequality remains a serious issue. They emphasized that gender budgeting would not only provide equal opportunities for women but also play a crucial role in the country’s overall development and stability. Participants urged the government to consider marginalized groups when preparing federal and provincial budgets and to ensure the effective and proper use of allocated funds.