Gender Responsive Budgeting in Pakistan: Scope and Challenges

Citation:

Qureshi, Shazia, Safdar Abbas, Rabia Safdar, and Rubeena Zakar. 2013. “Gender Responsive Budgeting in Pakistan: Scope and Challenges.” Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan 50 (1): 1–25.

Authors: Shazia Qureshi, Rubeena Zakar, Rabia Safdar, Safdar Abbas

Abstract:

Women face discriminatory treatment in all spheres of life in Pakistan. Among other initiatives taken to reduce the gender gap between men and women, Gender Responsive Budgets could be of paramount importance. The present study is intended to delineate the concept of Gender Responsive Budgeting in a Pakistani context and to investigate the scope and challenges of the Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiative in Pakistan. A critical review of secondary data revealed that Gender Responsive Budgeting is able not only to identify gender gaps but also to reduce gender inequality through different policy interventions. Gender Responsive Budgeting is confronted with institutional and administrative challenges. It is enacted through different tools and it addresses and accounts for the needs, concerns and priorities of women. Effective implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting could contribute substantially to achieving the goal of women’s empowerment and the overall development of a country.

Topics: Development, Gender, Gender Budgeting Regions: Asia, South Asia Countries: Pakistan

Year: 2013