Article by: Shazia Tasleem Kasi
Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan
Date: 08-10-2025
Introduction: A Landmark Pension Reform in Pakistan
The recent amendment to Pakistan’s pension rules – allowing pension benefits to be transferred to a deceased pensioner’s married or divorced daughter after the death of the widow – marks a significant shift in the country’s legal landscape.
Removing Discriminatory Clauses from Pension Rules
It removes a longstanding discriminatory clause that limited benefits only to unmarried daughters, a provision rooted in outdated assumptions about women’s financial dependency on male relatives.
CEDAW and Pakistan’s Legal Obligations
Under CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), to which Pakistan is a signatory, states are obligated to eliminate laws that discriminate against women on the basis of sex or marital status. Article 13(a) guarantees women equal rights to family benefits, while Article 2 requires legislative measures to end discriminatory practices.
Aligning Pension Policy with Constitutional Guarantees
By extending pension entitlements regardless of marital status, this amendment takes an important step towards fulfilling Pakistan’s CEDAW commitments. It recognizes that women’s economic vulnerability does not end upon marriage, and aligns pension policy with Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which ensures equality before the law.
The Importance of Effective Implementation
However, the reform’s true impact will depend on its implementation. A gender-sensitive legal framework is not only about amending statutes, but ensuring that administrative procedures are accessible, that dependency criteria are applied fairly, and that awareness is raised among eligible beneficiaries.
Beyond Welfare: Advancing Gender Equality in Law
This amendment is more than a welfare adjustment – it is a signal that Pakistan’s legal system can evolve towards equity. It reflects a growing recognition that gender equality in law is not charity, but a constitutional and international obligation.
A Right, Not a Favor
It is not a favor, its right guaranteed under the Constitution and obligations towards International Commitments.
By: Shazia Tasleem Kasi
President of Women’s and Children Rights, Pakistan
Implementation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (IUDHR)
UN Charter – Pakistan Chapter