UN Women and NCSW Launch Pakistan’s First Care Economy Roadmap Forum
Two-day dialogue unites stakeholders to transform care systems for growth and gender equity
UN Women, in collaboration with the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), has launched a two-day forum titled “Transforming Care Systems: A Roadmap for Economic Growth and Social Equity in Pakistan” to pave the way for the country’s first Care Economy Roadmap. The initiative brings together government officials, civil society, academia, private sector leaders, and development partners such as UNICEF, ILO, the Government of Norway, and Jazz to set priorities for strengthening Pakistan’s care systems.
At the opening, NCSW Acting Chair Umme Laila Azhar emphasized the importance of valuing unpaid work, stating that the initiative is about ensuring women’s contributions are recognized and supported. UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya highlighted the need to treat care as a skilled profession and a cornerstone of human development. Representing the private sector, Jazz’s Kazim Mujtaba stressed that investing in care directly enhances women’s participation in the workforce and fuels economic growth.
The forum also received international recognition, with ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Secretary-General H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman applauding Pakistan’s leadership in advancing the regional care agenda.
Participants are examining the economic and social case for investing in both paid and unpaid care, focusing on areas such as social protection, decent work policies, and public–private partnerships. Discussions are also addressing connections between care systems, climate resilience, and gender equality. The outcome of the two days will be a consolidated policy paper offering concrete recommendations for Pakistan’s first Care Economy Roadmap.
Key speakers include Dr. Sharmila Faruqi, MNA; Jamshed M. Kazi, UN Women Pakistan; Sharmeela Rassool, UNICEF; Dr. Lubna Shehnaz, PRIDE Consulting; Gulmina Bilal, NAVTTC; Durreshahwar, Pakistan United Workers Federation; Muhammad Jahangir, Handicap International; Dr. Dure Nayab, PIDE; Humaira Zia Mufti, NCSW; Ivo Spauwen, ILO; and Summaiya Bushra, BOPinc.
The closing session will feature remarks from Minister of State Wajiha Qamar, Norwegian Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas, and Jacqui Ketunuti of UN Women Pakistan, marking a significant step towards institutionalizing care as both a driver of social equity and economic progress in Pakistan.
