The Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), Dr. Shahida Rehmani, MNA, held a meeting with Ms. Ina Lepel, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, along with Ms. Violetta Anand Kuzmova, First Secretary for Human Rights and Migration at the Embassy of Germany, at the National Assembly Secretariat.
Dr. Shahida Rehmani welcomed the Ambassador and her delegation and briefed them on the role and mandate of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, a cross-party platform of women parliamentarians in the National Assembly.
She highlighted that the Caucus works collectively to advance gender equality, strengthen women’s political participation, and promote legislation and policies aimed at protecting and empowering women and girls across Pakistan.
Ambassador, Ms. Ina Lepel appreciated the role being played by the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and shared an overview of Germany’s ongoing initiatives in Pakistan, particularly in the areas of access to justice, skill development, and climate change.
She reaffirmed Germany’s continued commitment to supporting development efforts that strengthen institutions, promote inclusive growth, and expand opportunities for communities across Pakistan.
Both sides underscored the importance of enhanced parliamentary cooperation and proposed the organization of learning exchanges between women parliamentarians of Pakistan’s National Assembly and members of the German Parliament (Bundestag).
Dr. Shahida Rehmani noted that such engagements, whether through physical visits or virtual interactions, could facilitate the sharing of experiences, best practices, and policy perspectives on women’s leadership and democratic governance.
Furthermore, emphasis was laid on the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration to advance shared priorities, including human rights, women’s empowerment, and inclusive policymaking.
The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus expressed its appreciation for Germany’s longstanding support to Pakistan’s development and reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening cooperation and engagement in the future.
The meeting was attended by the Convenor of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel; Treasurer of WPC Ms. Shahida Begum; Parliamentary Secretaries Ms. Farah Naz Akbar and Ms. Zeb Jaffar; MNAs Syeda Shehla Raza, Ms. Rana Ansar, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan, Ms. Farakh Khan; and Senators Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy and Ms. Fawzia Arshad.