PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) has notified the ‘Girls Education Oversight and Advisory Committee’ to promote female education in the province.
The committee, meant for strengthening policy oversight and coordinated action for advancing girls’ education, has been constituted in line with provincial commitments under ‘quality education’ (SDG-4) and aims at ensuring that girls’ education remains central to governance, budgeting and development planning.
The committee will be headed by KPCSW chairperson Dr Sumera Shams and its other members are MPA Amna Sardar, members of the commission Dr Minhas Majeed and Humaira Nawaz, former MPAs Asia Khattak, Ayesha Naeem and Madiha Nisar, social activists Naeema Naz, Hina Rahman, representative of Blue Veins organisation Qamar Naseem, a representative of elementary and secondary education department, with secretary/director programmes of KPCSW serving as its secretary, along with provision for co-opted members as required.
According to a notification, the committee is mandated to provide strategic oversight and guidance on girls’ education initiatives in the province; review enrolment, retention, transition, and completion trends at all levels; monitor policy commitments and budgetary allocations; identify implementation gaps related to infrastructure, teachers, safety, and learning outcomes; and strengthen coordination among government departments, civil society organisations, and development partners.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have welcomed the notification of the committee as a timely and strategic intervention.
Rise and Shine Girls Education Leadership Network, appreciated the institutional commitment demonstrated by KPCSW chairperson Dr Sumera Shams in placing girls’ education at the forefront of provincial priorities.
Similarly, Child Rights Movement (CRM) described the committee as a milestone in integrating child rights and gender equality into education governance.
Dr Sumera Shams has also emphasised the direct correlation between girls’ education and women’s empowerment. “Educating girls is one of the most effective ways to empower women, reduce inequalities, and promote inclusive development. Through this committee, KPCSW wants to ensure that girls’ education policies are not only formulated but effectively implemented, monitored, and improved through collective effort and accountability,” she said.
She said that the formation of the committee was a continuation of the provincial government’s commitment, which had allocated 70 percent of its education development budget towards girls’ education.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2026.
