Abstract
Electoral manifestos play a central role in determining parties’ priorities for national development and ensuring fundamental rights of people. Moreover, Political parties have taken concrete steps towards women’s inclusion in the national development in Pakistan since 2000 because empowerment of women is directly linked to their greater economic role. In this regard, the aim of present study is to analyze the differences in key working areas for women empowerment in parties’ manifestos. The population consisted on 38 eligible political parties for election registered with Election Commission of Pakistan. But as a sample, the study revolves around three main political parties’ manifestos, all Sectors and Time frame (three election tenures).Three main parties included (Pakistan Muslim League-N, Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) 2013 and 2018.The study is based upon secondary sources of data. Findings showed that three main parties’ have given the attention to bring women in the mainstream of national development through women empowerment. Comparative analysis revealed that PTI acknowledges more women integration in economic growth of country by providing them free education up to matric, housing and child care assistance. Moreover, PTI gives special attention to "women support cells" in each police station at tehsil level. While PML-N committed to political participation of women at all levels, protection of rural women and land rights and special commitment for women protection centers. However, PPP also pledge to women empowerment with special focus to increase additional 10 percent quota for women in political parties, increase job quota to 20 percent and quota for women judges is integral to the judicial process at all levels. In addition the analysis revealed that besides the commitments in manifestos, parties are unable to fulfill that or even some areas are in manifestos still unaddressed yet. The Election Commission of Pakistan should develop follow up mechanism for commitments made in manifestos. This study has recommendations for political parties to work on the gender sensitive agenda including men, women and third gender as well.