ISLAMABAD, JUL 27 (DNA) – Pakistani and Afghan women parliamentarians should have a caucus to work on issues of bilateral significance and build linkages through positive interactions and collaborations. This was agreed upon today by a contingent of prominent female lawmakers in Islamabad at an inception event organized by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The participants included Senator Rubina Khalid, and Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Nafisa Shah, Shaheen Saifullah, Shandana Gulzar, Uzma Riaz Jadoon, and Zille Huma.

Members stressed on building cooperation in the sectors of health, education, financial inclusivity, employment, COVID-19, border trade, refugees, maternal health, and youth engagement.

They further urged that the proposed caucus should comprise representatives from both the National Assembly and the Senate. In order to maintain the historical record, it would be ideal to include parliamentarians who were present in the previous Af-Pak caucus and friendship groups. They also suggested to nominate a caucus chair in the parliament house so that it can work directly under the parliament. Finally, the inception meeting agreed on formulating the agenda for the caucus in a subsequent moot, and to finalize it in collaboration with female Afghan lawmaker counterparts.

A similar strategic sideline meeting headed by Afghan Member Parliament Shinkai Karokhail was held in Kabul on Saturday, July 25, 2020.

The idea for forming said caucus emerged from CRSS’ bilateral meetings as part of its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue ‘Beyond Boundaries’ to bring women parliamentarians on both sides to strengthen the people-to-people relationship and mitigate the wide trust deficit.DNA

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