KP Ombudsperson Achieves Major Gains for Women’s Rights

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Office of the Ombudsperson for Women has reported notable progress in women’s rights, speedy justice, and institutional reforms during the period from October 5 to November 28, 2025. Under the leadership of Ombudsperson Rubab Mehdi, the Secretariat has reached several national milestones and gained international recognition for advancing property rights for women and strengthening workplace protections.

During the reporting period, the Secretariat conducted high-level meetings with national and international organizations to further women’s protection initiatives. UN Women Pakistan reviewed a draft Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on safeguarding women, while the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection of Women, Fauzia Waqar, commended KP’s Secretariat for its efficient handling of harassment cases. The World Bank Country Director received a briefing on gender-responsive governance, and the President of the Forum of Ombudspersons described the Secretariat as a model institution. Provincial Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan highlighted improvements in digital reforms and public service delivery as part of the office’s achievements.

Ombudsperson Mehdi actively engaged with the public and academia, addressing students at Frontier Law College and delivering a keynote at an international webinar. These engagements were viewed as acknowledgment of Pakistan’s continued progress in administrative justice.

On the operational side, the Secretariat maintained a daily cause list of approximately 80 cases and successfully resolved over 75 cases during this period. Seventeen field commissions were conducted across urban, rural, and remote areas, resulting in property divisions, immediate possession for women, corrections in revenue records, and a significant land inquiry in Kohat.

Interdepartmental coordination also saw significant gains. Thirty-three referrals were processed with entities including the Police, FIA, National Commission on Human Rights, Social Welfare and Revenue Departments, Gender Desks, District Administration, and pro bono lawyers. These referrals covered domestic violence, harassment, child protection, forced marriages, FIR disputes, police misconduct, cybercrime, and legal aid.

Officials noted that the reporting period underscores the growing role of the Office of the Ombudsperson for Women at the national level, its increasing international visibility, and its practical contributions toward strengthening women’s rights and improving access to justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This progress reflects ongoing efforts to create a safer, more equitable environment for women in the province, with a focus on legal support, property rights, workplace protection, and institutional reforms that set a benchmark for other regions.