# Naz Baloch

Naz Baloch (Urdu: ناز بلوچ) is a prominent Pakistani politician and a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018. She has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change since 2022 and was a key delegate at COP27, the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The conference brought together global leaders to advance climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Baloch is an active legislator, serving on multiple parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committees on Broadcasting, Information & Information Technology, Human Rights, and Industries. With her strong media presence, she is recognized as a leading spokesperson for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and an influential advocate for womens political participation and climate action in Pakistan.
Naz Baloch hails from the Rind Baloch tribe and was born into a politically active family. Her father, Abdullah Baloch, was a founding member of the PPP and served as a minister during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s tenure. Inspired by her father’s political legacy, she entered politics at a young age, demonstrating strong leadership, public service commitment, and a passion for advocacy.
In 2011, she joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a young political activist. Her grassroots political engagement and dynamic leadership led to her rapid rise within the party. By May 2013, she was elected Central Vice President of PTI and became a member of the Central Executive Committee. In the 2013 General Elections, she contested from NA-240 Karachi, a constituency traditionally challenging for women candidates. Despite the odds, her campaign was a significant step toward increasing women’s m representation in mainstream Pakistani politics.
Naz Baloch played a pivotal role during the 2014 PTI Dharna (sit-in), where she emerged as a frontline leader, managing media affairs and amplifying PTI’s political message. Her tireless efforts and public engagement during the movement gained her national recognition as a dynamic political leader and a media strategist.
In July 2017, Naz Baloch made a strategic shift in her political career, she quits PTI, and joined PPP Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), citing ideological differences with PTI. Her move was considered a return to her political roots, given her family’s deep association with the PPP. Since then, she has been an active advocate for democratic governance, women’s empowerment, and media freedom, solidifying her role as a key voice in Pakistani politics.
Naz Baloch is a recognized leader in global political dialogues and has been a member of the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), USA. Her contributions to women’s political participation, media advocacy, and climate governance have earned her national and international recognition.
Her participation in COP27 reinforced Pakistan’s stance on climate change, highlighting issues such as climate justice, sustainable development, and disaster resilience, especially in the wake of Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods.
Naz Baloch is an inspiration for women in Pakistan, consistently breaking barriers in a male-dominated political landscape. Her journey from a young political activist to a national leader reflects her resilience, vision, and dedication to public service. Through her legislative contributions, media presence, and international engagements, she continues to shape Pakistan’s political discourse, advocating for inclusive governance, gender equality, and climate action.

## Early life and education

She has bachelor's degree in Economics from St. Joseph's College. Her ethnically Baloch father, Abdullah Baloch, is a high-ranking member of Pakistan Peoples Party, Ex-Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto tenure.

## Political career

Naz Baloch joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in August 2011, shortly after her marriage on April 22, 2011. Despite belonging to a politically influential family with deep-rooted ties to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), she chose to enter politics independently, making her the first woman in her family to actively participate in party politics—a rare move for Baloch women, who traditionally remain outside the political sphere.
In the 2013 General Elections, she contested from NA-240 (Karachi) as a PTI candidate for the National Assembly of Pakistan. She was the only female candidate in the constituency, a remarkable feat given the political and cultural challenges faced by women in electoral politics. She secured 21,094 votes, finishing as the runner-up.
On July 16, 2017, she formally left PTI and joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), aligning herself with her family’s historical political association.