ISLAMABAD  –  With financial support from the European Union, UN Women Pakistan convened a high-level policy dialogue focusing on strengthening gender-responsive budgeting within justice sector institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. The event brought together government officials, development partners, civil society representatives and technical experts to advance equitable, accountable and evidence-based public finance practices. The dialogue examined how provincial budget allocations affect women’s access to justice and protection services, drawing on insights from the Gender Analysis of Provincial Budgets FY 2025–26. The analysis highlighted a persistent gap between increased overall spending and limited investment in gender-responsive services across the justice sector. In his keynote remarks, Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, emphasised the need to align public finance systems with justice sector reforms. “Gender-responsive budgeting is not merely a technical exercise, it is a governance imperative,” he said. “Ensuring that justice sector resources respond to the needs of women and girls is essential for building equitable and effective institutions.” Ms Fahmida Iqbal Khan, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, stressed the importance of translating financial allocations into improved justice outcomes. “While sector allocations have increased, the key challenge lies in ensuring that these investments enhance access to justice for women and girls,” she said. “Gender-responsive budgeting is crucial for building inclusive and responsive justice systems.” Abdul Khaliq Sheikh, Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, highlighted the need for institutional accountability. “Integrating gender perspectives into justice sector budgeting is essential to ensure institutions respond effectively to the needs of all citizens, particularly women and vulnerable groups,” he noted. The event included technical presentations and a moderated discussion on strengthening gender-responsive budgeting within police, prosecution and judiciary institutions. Experts outlined critical gaps in targeted investment for services such as survivor support, reporting mechanisms and gender-sensitive infrastructure. A panel discussion, “From Fiscal Growth to Gender Outcomes: What Must Change in Upcoming Development Budgets?”, brought together representatives from provincial finance and planning departments, justice sector institutions, development partners and civil society. Participants identified priority reforms, including improved gender budget tagging, strengthened data and tracking systems, and enhanced coordination across justice sector institutions. The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to advance gender-responsive public finance reforms, ensuring that upcoming provincial budgets translate into improved justice access, protection services and institutional responsiveness for women and girls in KP and Balochistan. The event was held under the EU-funded programme “Promoting Rule of Law and Enhancing the Criminal Justice System in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Newly Merged Districts and Balochistan,” a $20 million initiative implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and UNODC to strengthen rule of law and expand equitable access to justice for women and marginalised groups.