National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad

Meet Amna Baloch, born in Sanghar, Sindh a distinguished diplomat who played a pivotal role in the Iran–US ceasefire talks.

As Pakistan’s 33rd Foreign Secretary and only the second woman to hold this prestigious office. She represents the strength, competence, and resilience of women in leadership. The daughter of renowned scholar Dr. Nabi Baloch, she continues a legacy grounded in intellect, service, and national commitment.

With over three decades of diplomatic excellence, she has represented Pakistan across key global platforms, including the European Union, China, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, navigating complex geopolitical landscapes and strengthening Pakistan’s international standing.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that Pakistan’s global voice includes the quiet, determined efforts of diplomats who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad recognizes Amna Baloch’s achievements as a testament to the immense potential of Pakistani . When women are empowered and given equitable space, they not only excel but redefine possibilities for generations to come.

Her story serves as an inspiration for young girls across Pakistan a call to dream bigger, work harder, and lead with purpose. The future belongs to those who follow the path of dedication, integrity, and perseverance exemplified by trailblazers like her.

Strengthening Partnerships for Women and Children’s Rights 🇵🇰

A delegation from UNICEF Pakistan called on the Chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration on and child rights.
The meeting was led by Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri and Secretary Humaira Zia M***i, alongside Elnur Aliyev, Chief of Social & Behavioral Change at UNICEF, and team members.
Discussions focused on:
✔️ Advancing girls’ rights and addressing out-of-school children, particularly girls
✔️ Strengthening joint efforts to end child marriage
✔️ Promoting gender-responsive budgeting and institutional capacity
✔️ Building positive narratives on gender equality through media engagement
✔️ Expanding community-level interventions and youth leadership initiatives

Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri emphasized the need for inclusive, community-driven approaches that center survivors, strengthen family and community support systems, and ensure sustainable impact. She also highlighted the importance of engaging educational institutions, particularly women’s universities, to empower the next generation of leaders.

Secretary Humaira Zia M***i underscored the importance of aligning gender-responsive initiatives with existing fiscal realities and enhancing the capacity of government stakeholders through targeted training.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration, strengthening provincial outreach, and ensuring more inclusive engagement across all levels.

Together, NCSW and UNICEF aim to drive meaningful change for women and children across Pakistan.

Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive Development 🇵🇰

A delegation from United Nations Development Programme UNDP Pakistan called on the Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to discuss ongoing initiatives and explore avenues for enhanced collaboration on gender equality and human rights.
The meeting was led by Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri, where the UNDP delegation briefed the Commission on its ongoing activities and programmes, particularly under .
Discussions focused on:
✔️ Strengthening institutional frameworks for gender equality and human rights
✔️ Enhancing collaboration under Huqooq-e-Pakistan II
✔️ Supporting legal and policy reforms for women’s empowerment
✔️ Expanding outreach and inclusive engagement at provincial and community levels.
Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri and Secretary appreciated UNDP’s continued support and emphasized the importance of sustained, coordinated efforts to advance women’s rights across . Chairperson highlighted the need for inclusive, evidence-based interventions that translate policy commitments into tangible impact on the ground.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration, aligning strategic priorities, and working together to ensure effective implementation of rights-based initiatives under Huqooq-e-Pakistan II.
Together, NCSW and UNDP aim to drive meaningful and sustainable progress for women across Pakistan.

Strengthening the Path to Gender Justice in Pakistan 🇵🇰

National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad has formalized a strategic partnership with the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI), reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing women’s rights and .
This collaboration marks a significant step toward:
✔️ Evidence-based policy and legal reform
✔️ Strengthened institutional accountability
✔️ Enhanced access to justice and protection mechanisms
✔️ Survivor-centered and inclusive engagement
Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri underscored that sustainable progress in gender equality requires strong, evidence-driven partnerships that translate commitments into real impact.
Secretary Humaira Zia M***i highlighted the importance of technical collaboration, policy coherence, and stakeholder engagement in addressing systemic challenges faced by women, particularly those from marginalized communities.
Together, NCSW and SSDO aim to drive meaningful, lasting change, ensuring that the rights, dignity, and protection of every woman are upheld.

National Commission on the Status of Women extends heartfelt congratulations to Sister Mariam Parveen, Member NCSW Punjab, on her appointment to the High-Level Technical Committee constituted by the Government of Punjab, Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Department.

Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri, along with all board members and the entire team National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad, congratulate our esteemed Member Punjab for being chosen for this honoured role.

The Committee carries a pivotal mandate to review Christian personal laws, address procedural gaps, and propose legally coherent reforms for the protection of women, children, and vulnerable groups.

We are confident that Sister Mariam Parveen’s dedication and insight will be a valuable contribution to this important work. Wishing her every success.

Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad, Noureen Bano Lehri, delivered a powerful keynote at the 5th International Conference on Early Childhood Development, organized by UNICEF Pakistan and Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad.
The conference, attended by Chief Guest Ahsan Iqbal, highlighted the urgent need to invest in the “magic years” of childhood to build Pakistan’s human capital.

In her address, the Chairperson NCSW made it clear:
👉 We cannot talk about child development without addressing poverty
👉 A violence-free environment for women is essential for raising healthy children
👉 Maternal health—both physical and mental—is foundational
👉 Women workers in health and education remain undervalued
👉 Economic injustice against women directly affects future generations

She emphasized that everything is interconnected—poverty, gender inequality, health, and child development—and must be addressed holistically.
NCSW reaffirmed that Early Childhood Development is not just a social priority, but a imperative.
NCSW appreciates UNICEF Pakistan, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, and the Pakistan ECD Alliance for their continued leadership and collaboration.
🇵🇰 Investing in women is investing in the future of Pakistan.
Government of Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Allama Iqbal Open University United Nations

A delegation from Community World Service Asia (CWSA) called on the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri, to discuss ongoing collaboration and key challenges faced by minority communities across Pakistan, particularly concerning minority marriage and family laws.
The delegation highlighted persistent delays in legislative amendments at the federal level since 2017, emphasizing the urgent need for action to safeguard the rights of minority women.
Building on the positive outcomes of previous multi-stakeholder engagements between NCSW and CWSA, the delegation requested NCSW’s support in mobilizing the Women Parliamentary Caucus and relevant partners to advance these long-pending legal reforms.
Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri reaffirmed NCSW’s commitment to addressing the concerns of minority communities and supporting inclusive, rights-based legal frameworks for women across Pakistan.

Chairperson National Commission On The Status Of Women, Madam Noureen Bano Lehri of participated as a keynote speaker at a high-level roundtable on early childhood development and nutrition, reaffirmed NCSW’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of women and children in Pakistan. She emphasized the importance of strengthening legal frameworks, advancing policy reforms, and ensuring strategic interventions that support mothers and promote healthier future generations. She also highlighted NCSW’s continued partnership with UNICEF Pakistan and other stakeholders to drive meaningful, system-level change.
The roundtable was convened by the Health Services Academy in collaboration with UNICEF, bringing together key stakeholders from the judiciary, government, UN agencies, development partners, academia, and civil society.
Discussions focused on:
Strengthening enforcement of existing laws regulating breastfeeding substitutes

Improving accountability across sectors

Promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments, including workplace policies that support mothers

Participants collectively reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that legal and policy frameworks translate into tangible improvements in nutrition and early childhood development for every child in Pakistan.

Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination | World Health Organization

National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) welcomes the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan’s strategic engagement on the National Design Competition for Women Facilitation Centers under the Gender-Responsive Justice Initiative.
Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri highlighted NCSW’s continued support for the establishment of Women Facilitation Centers as inclusive, accessible spaces aimed at strengthening women’s access to justice.
Chairperson & Secretary NCSW Humaira Zia M***i underscored that NCSW had earlier developed the concept note for Sukh da Vehra—envisioned as a comprehensive family mediation centre to provide essential services to women in family-related cases. The initiative also integrates mechanisms to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), ensuring a survivor-centered and rights-based approach.
NCSW remains committed to institutional reforms that advance gender-responsive justice and protect the rights and dignity of women across Pakistan.

NCSW Appreciates Honourable Courts’ Recognition of Women’s Contributions; Reaffirms Commitment to Nikahnama and Dowry Law Reforms

Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) welcomes and deeply appreciates the recent observations of the honourable courts recognising the economic and social contributions of women within the household.
This acknowledgement marks a significant and progressive step towards long-overdue recognition of women’s unpaid care work, which forms the backbone of family structures and contributes silently yet substantially to the national economy. Such judicial reflection reinforces the principles of dignity, equity, and justice for women across Pakistan.
NCSW has consistently advocated for the formal recognition of women’s rights within marriage, particularly their financial and non-financial contributions. The Commission has been actively engaging with key stakeholders, including legal experts, policymakers, religious scholars, and civil society, to build consensus on much-needed reforms.
In this regard, NCSW has been leading extensive discussions on proposed amendments to the Nikahnama to ensure it reflects contemporary realities and safeguards women’s rights more effectively. These efforts also include strengthening legal clarity and protections around dowry practices, with the aim of preventing exploitation and ensuring that women’s entitlements are protected in both letter and spirit of the law.
The recent observations of the courts further validate the direction of these reforms and provide momentum to ongoing efforts aimed at institutionalising gender-just frameworks within family laws.
NCSW remains firmly committed to advancing these reforms through inclusive dialogue, evidence-based policymaking, and sustained advocacy, to ensure that women in Pakistan are empowered, protected, and recognised as equal contributors to society.

Strengthening Women and girls' Rights Through Nikahnama Reform | NCSW Consultation

On her first day in office, Interim Chairperson Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri chaired the 3rd Consultative Meeting on the Standardization of the Nikahnama, marking a significant step forward in advancing legal protections for women across Pakistan, considering Justice Jawad Hassan's ( Mst. Saima Shafi vs. Additional District Judge and others – W.P.n. 526/2021) and Justice Kiyani's ( Mst Amara Waqas vs Muhammad Waqas Rasheed and others W.P. n. 365-2023) recent judgements on the subject.

This consultation built on the momentum of earlier sessions chaired by Secretary NCSW Ms. Humaira M***i, reflecting a sustained institutional commitment to reforming the Nikahnama as a robust, transparent, and enforceable legal instrument.

The session featured a technical presentation by Ms. Arham Sarwar (Legal Aid Society), who introduced a modular, evidence-based framework for Nikahnama reform-aligned with both legal realities and implementation challenges.

Key Expert Contributions

The discussion was enriched by diverse legal and policy perspectives, including:

Valerie Khan & Ms Saliha Ramay(UNFPA Pakistan) Emphasized stronger oversight mechanisms and structured training for Nikah registrars.

Sharafat (Advocate) – Highlighted the need for clarity in contractual terms to prevent disputes

Syed Abbas (Local Government, Balochistan) – Shared insights from provincial reforms, particularly Balochistan’s notified Nikahnama model

Waseem Ahmed (Sindh High Court) – Raised critical legal parameters, including the warning against the use of terminology such as “consideration” for haq mehr

Muhammad Masood (Senior Chief Planning) – Advocated for improved documentation standards and NADRA integration

Quratulain (Advocate) – Reinforced the recognition of Nikah as a formal legal contract requiring facilitation and legal safeguards

Chairperson Noureen Bano Lehri underscored the importance of learning from provincial innovations, particularly:

Balochistan’s proactive approach in notifying and implementing a standardized and consistent Nikahnama model

The need to review, replicate and adapt successful provincial practices at the national level

Strengthening local government systems to ensure effective implementation, especially in underserved and rural areas

Addressing documentation and age assessment gaps, informal practices, and lack of awareness, which disproportionately affect women and girls.

Ensuring accessibility, transparency, and enforcement through simplified, substantial formats and digital integration

She further emphasized that reforms must remain context and gender-sensitive, ensuring that legal protections are practically accessible to women and girls across all provinces, including Balochistan.

Key Outcomes and Way Forward

The consultation reaffirmed that:

A standardized Nikahnama is essential for ensuring uniform legal protection

Digital integration (NADRA-linked systems) can significantly improve transparency, verification, and accessibility

Registrar training and regulation are critical to prevent misuse and ensure compliance

Legal awareness and premarital counselling must complement documentation reforms

Age assessment aligned with international best practices is essential to prevent child marriage/trafficking and CSEA.

A working group will advance the development of a harmonized, nationally applicable Nikahnama

To conclude, the meeting underscored a shared commitment to transforming the Nikahnama into a comprehensive legal safeguard for women and girls grounded in clarity, enforceability, and equity.



NCSW continues to lead this critical reform process by bringing together stakeholders from across sectors to ensure that women and girls rights are protected not only in law, but in practice.

Newly appointed Interim Chairperson, Noureen Bano Lehri, commenced her tenure by leading a Spring plantation drive under NCSW’s flagship campaign .

She was accompanied by Member NCSW Balochistan Salma Qureshi; Chief Conservator Forests Balochistan, Mr. Syed Ali Imran; Deputy Conservator Forests Quetta, Mr. Riaz Dehwar; and Forest Guard Quetta City, Mr. Khalil ul Rehman. The activity was further supported by Ms. Bibi Fazila, Headmistress, and Ms. Sadia Ambreen, SST, along with the staff of Government Girls High School BMC Colony Quetta.
Launched under the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has, since last Autumn, inspired hundreds and thousands of citizens across the country to plant trees in celebration of their daughters recognizing their value, presence, and promise.
This campaign is not merely an environmental initiative but a nationwide movement that beautifully connects climate responsibility with the message of gender equality and dignity.
NCSW calls upon all citizens to become part of this impactful journey. Let no one delay in planting a tree to celebrate the presence of their daughters. Every tree planted today stands as a lasting symbol of hope, pride, and a greener, more inclusive Pakistan for generations to come. National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad