Islamabad (TDI): Thailand’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Rongvudhi Virabutr, met with senior leaders of Pakistan’s Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) on Tuesday.
The meeting laid the groundwork for a new chapter of bilateral cooperation on women’s empowerment, political participation, and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
The meeting brought together Dr. Nafisa Shah, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming; Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Secretary of the WPC; and Shahida Begum, Treasurer of the WPC.
At the outset, Dr. Rehmani conveyed the WPC’s condolences to the Thai Royal Family and the people of Thailand at the passing of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati.
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Ambassador Virabutr highlighted two ongoing Thai Embassy initiatives run in partnership with UN Women Pakistan that aim to build women’s economic independence.
The first trains women in beautician and entrepreneurial skills so they can operate home-based salons; a first phase has already been completed in Sialkot, with a second phase due to begin soon.
The second project equips women in farming communities, including in Swabi, with modern agricultural know-how spanning soil and water management, crop practices and value-added production, and is likewise entering its second phase. The Ambassador invited the women parliamentarians to take part in both programs.
Discussions also turned to strengthening women’s role in political decision-making, advancing Gender-Responsive Budgeting and tackling violence against women, with Thailand affirming its readiness to work closely with the WPC on these fronts.
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On peace and security, Thailand offered to share lessons from its own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, having been among the first countries in Southeast Asia to complete one, as Pakistan considers developing its own.
The Ambassador also signaled Thai support should Pakistan choose to pursue a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation across parliamentary, civil society, and multilateral channels, including through UN Women, in pursuit of gender equality and sustainable development.
The talks underscore growing diplomatic engagement between Thailand and Pakistan on social development issues, building on existing grassroots programs that have already started changing lives in communities.
