PWPA, UNFPA agree to strengthen collaboration on women’s safety, awareness

A delegation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday held a meeting with Director General Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Dr. Lubna Nazir to discuss ongoing initiatives for women’s protection, community awareness, digital transformation and future collaboration to strengthen support mechanisms for women across Punjab

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2026) A delegation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday held a meeting with Director General Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Dr. Lubna Nazir to discuss ongoing initiatives for women’s protection, community awareness, digital transformation and future collaboration to strengthen support mechanisms for women across Punjab.

The meeting, held at the PWPA office, was attended by FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) representatives Ali Naqvi and Adeela Khan, while UNFPA was represented by Provincial Coordinator Tania Durrani and Saliha Ramay.

Dr. Lubna Nazir briefed the delegation on the Punjab government’s institutional mechanisms and ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s protection, with particular focus on extending services to marginalized, minority and underprivileged women to ensure equitable access to protection and support facilities across the province.

During the meeting, Tania Durrani said UNFPA had trained more than 40,000 workers and volunteers to facilitate outreach and support services for women living in remote and underserved areas.

Both sides agreed that community awareness, public engagement and local participation were essential for an effective women’s protection system. The participants observed that lower reporting of violence against women in some districts of South Punjab could be linked to limited awareness of reporting mechanisms and available support services, stressing the importance of involving local influencers, community leaders and social workers to improve awareness and reporting.

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Dr. Lubna Nazir also gave a detailed briefing on PWPA’s digital transformation initiatives, including centralized monitoring systems, helpline services and use of digital platforms such as the IRIS system.

The UNFPA delegation appreciated the authority’s technology-driven approach, describing its digital reporting and monitoring mechanisms as progressive and effective.

The meeting also reviewed measures to strengthen interdepartmental coordination among police, prosecution and psychological support services to improve responses to gender-based violence through integrated service delivery. Both sides discussed institutional and financial support mechanisms, government priorities and the effective utilization of available resources.

The UNFPA delegation appreciated the Punjab government’s commitment, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, to advancing women’s protection and empowerment initiatives. At the conclusion of the meeting, both organisations expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation to address discriminatory social norms, enhance community awareness, protect women’s rights and improve the welfare of incarcerated women.