ISLAMABAD: Experts at the consultative workshop highlighted that gender inequality was an international issue which required targeted policy interventions with a bottom-up approach.

The consultative workshop titled `Gender Policy and Economic Development: Applying the Disaster Resilience Lens` held on Saturday was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), in collaboration with British High Commission`s Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Romina Khurshid Alam said women being half of population were at the centre of development agenda and pivotal for effectively catalysing change.

`But lack of gender data hinders effective policy implementation in addressing climate disaster issues and inequalities,` she added.

She also informed that the Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs and SDPI are collaborating to initiate a regional parliamentary consortium to overcome gender inequalities in the region and join forces on the issue.

Naghma Tehniat, Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), REMIT, reiterated British government`s commitment to addressing gender and climate issues.

She said that since the floods in 2022, the focus has been directed to review of policies for gendered impact analysis and address these issues.

However, the speakers stressed the disaster lens for a gender focused economic development should be holistic, and not be confined to a single ministry`s framework.

It was highlighted that recurring incidences of climate disasters, the current knowledge must be utilised to develop responses to sporadic climate instances.

The other experts from REMIT said that weak coordination between public institutions creates policy isolation and urged for scaling up and strengthening indigenous sector to support economic resilience and development especially for gender related interventions.

Prof Gary Dymski, from Leeds University, UK in his presentation highlighted that gender inequality was a multi-scalar issue exacerbated by crisis.

He suggested conducting case studies at local and urban levels to strategise resilient socio-economic development of women.

He further stressed the need for increasing access to finances for resilient economic development in an inclusive manner.

Dr Fareeha Armughan, Head Centre for Evidence Action Research, SDPI, highlighted need for genderspecific shock responsive data and hotspot mapping for targeting investments in areas where women are highly vulnerable.