ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Human Rights convened to address several pressing matters, including the inconsistency in marriage age across different government levels in Pakistan and the lack of inter-ministerial coordination to tackle social issues. The meeting, presided over by Ms. Asiya Naz Tanoli, MNA, emphasized the need for uniformity in marriage laws and improved collaboration among ministries to effectively combat societal challenges.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee praised the Ministry of Human Rights for successfully hosting the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad, which is expected to bolster women’s roles in socioeconomic empowerment, digital inclusion, and political participation. However, it expressed concern over the varying marriage age laws and urged the Ministry to unify these regulations nationwide by engaging all provinces.

The committee also criticized the poor performance of ministries and departments tasked with addressing social evils due to inadequate coordination. It highlighted that while policies exist, their implementation remains ineffective at the grassroots level. The committee instructed the Ministry of Human Rights to foster better inter-ministerial communication to address issues such as rape, harassment, child abuse, drugs, and begging. Additionally, it recommended launching a media campaign to raise public awareness about the ministry’s services to enhance departmental performance.

Earlier in the meeting, the committee received updates on the National Commission on the Status of Women and the Child Protection Institute, including the challenges they face. The committee was requested to support budget enhancements and filling of vacant positions to improve their functionality.

The meeting was attended by several MNAs and senior officers from the Ministry of Human Rights and related departments, with Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA, participating via Zoom.