By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: Participants in a day-long seminar organised by the Pakistan Women Leaders (PWL) programme in Landikotal on Saturday stressed the need to empower women and create greater opportunities for their participation in political, social and public life.
The seminar was organised in Khugakhel village at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Abdul Razzaq Shinwari’s residence, which was attended by around 50 residents, political and social figures, community leaders, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.
They discussed ways to enhance women’s leadership skills and encourage their effective participation in decision-making and community affairs.
Former tehsil chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari, Abdul Razzaq Shinwari, Abdul Wahab and other community representatives shared their viewpoints.
The participants were given a detailed briefing on the objectives, scope and activities of the Pakistan Women Leaders Programme, as well as the criteria and mechanism for selecting women participants and emerging leaders.
Abdul Wahab, the key speaker, said that the Pakistan Women Leaders Programme was launched in July 2026 to empower women leaders and strengthen their leadership capacities. He said the programme is supported by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and was being implemented in partnership with the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA).
Abdul Wahab said that the programme aimed to equip women with practical skills in leadership, communication, public engagement, advocacy and community mobilisation so that they could effectively raise local issues and contribute to positive change in their communities.
He said the programme aimed to reach more than 1,700 women across 57 districts of Pakistan. Of these, 170 emerging women leaders would receive specialised mentorship and guidance from experienced leaders.
He said a representation quota has also been established to ensure participation from diverse sectors. Under the proposed mechanism, 60 per cent of participants would be selected from political parties, 30 per cent from professional associations and relevant bodies, including women’s chambers of commerce and bar associations, while 10 per cent would be selected from non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations.
Chairman Shah Khalid said sustainable and meaningful social change could not be achieved without bringing women into mainstream political and social activities.
He said providing women in areas such as Khyber with opportunities to develop leadership skills would not only enhance their confidence but also enable them to play a more effective role in identifying and addressing problems faced by local communities.
He also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where women could participate in public affairs without social and institutional barriers.
Under the programme, leadership boot camps would also be organised in selected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former tribal districts. The boot camps would provide practical training to women in leadership, public participation, advocacy, communication, community engagement and other skills required for effective public leadership.
Andur Raziq Shinwari said the district-level orientation session was not merely an introductory meeting but an important step towards identifying emerging women leaders, strengthening local cooperation and partnerships, understanding the challenges faced by women and creating a supportive environment for their participation in political and public life.
He expressed hope that the programme would help increase women’s representation in local decision-making processes and enable more women to emerge as effective voices for their communities.
