Women’s Representation in the Senate of Pakistan

Abstract

This paper aims to explore patterns of women’s representation in the senate of Pakistan. The study is based on collection and analysis of available secondary data. The basic argument of the paper is that there is a wide gender gap between men and women’s representation in the Senate of Pakistan. Number of women elected in the senate has remained significantly lower than that of men throughout the bicameral parliamentary history of Pakistan. Women’s representation in the house remained lower on both reserved and general seats. Quota for women’s reserved seats was introduced very late but it had significantly increased women’s over all representation in the senate of Pakistan. Simultaneously, the quota allocation also came with reduced number of women elected on general seats in further election.