A delegation from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held a high-level meeting with Director General Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA), Dr. Lubna Nazir, at the PWPA office to discuss women's protection initiatives
Lahore: (Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2026) A delegation from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held a high-level meeting with Director General Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA), Dr. Lubna Nazir, at the PWPA office to discuss women's protection initiatives, community awareness, strengthening digital systems to prevent violence against women, and future areas of collaboration.
During the meeting, Director General PWPA Dr. Lubna Nazir briefed the UNFPA delegation on the Government of Punjab's ongoing initiatives and institutional mechanisms aimed at strengthening women's protection across the province. Particular emphasis was placed on outreach efforts targeting marginalized, minority, and underprivileged women to ensure equitable access to protection and support services.
UNFPA Provincial Coordinator Ms. Tania Durrani informed the participants that the organization has trained more than 40,000 workers and volunteers to facilitate outreach and support services for women in remote and underserved communities.
Both sides agreed that community awareness, public engagement, and local participation are essential components of an effective women's protection system. The participants also discussed that lower reporting rates in some districts of Southern Punjab may be linked to limited awareness of available reporting mechanisms and support services. In this regard, the role of local influencers, community leaders, and social workers was identified as critical to improving awareness and reporting.
Dr. Lubna Nazir also provided a detailed overview of PWPA's ongoing digital transformation initiatives, including centralized monitoring systems, helpline services, and the use of digital platforms such as the IRIS system. The UNFPA delegation appreciated PWPA's efforts in digitalization, centralized monitoring, and the adoption of technology-driven solutions for women's protection, describing the digital reporting and monitoring mechanisms as effective and progressive.
The meeting further discussed strengthening interdepartmental coordination mechanisms to address gender-based violence, including enhanced collaboration among police, prosecution, and psychological support services, as well as the promotion of integrated response systems.
Both parties reviewed financial and institutional support mechanisms, government priorities, and the effective utilization of available resources. The UNFPA delegation appreciated the Government of Punjab's commitment, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, toward women's protection and empowerment initiatives.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to address discriminatory social norms and behavioral challenges, promote community awareness, and safeguard women's rights. The welfare and rights of incarcerated women were also identified as an important area for future cooperation and intervention.
