International Women’s Day 2026: Messages from Samreen Shaikh Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, University of Karachi

Gender equality must move beyond symbolic celebration to structural transformation. Commitments must translate into enforceable policies, measurable targets, and accountable institutions.

During my work with the UN Global Compact Network Pakistan, I have seen how integrating the Women’s Empowerment Principles into governance and corporate frameworks can create real pathways for women’s leadership and economic participation.

We need gender-responsive budgeting, stronger compliance mechanisms, equitable representation in decision-making, and zero tolerance for systemic discrimination. As a public administration scholar, I believe sustainable development is impossible without dismantling barriers that limit women’s economic and civic participation. Empowering women is not a peripheral agenda; it is central to economic resilience, institutional credibility, and democratic strength.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026