ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Thursday said that the two-day international conference on girls’ education set to start on Saturday in Islamabad would address challenges to women’s access to education across the Muslim world.

Addressing a press conference, he said the event would bring together educators, policymakers, researchers and community leaders to discuss strategies to improve access to quality education for girls in Muslim communities.

Flanked by Federal Secretary for Education Mohyuddin Wani, the minister said that arrangements have been finalised to hold the moot titled, “International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Siddique said that the conference was being organised by the education ministry in collaboration with the Muslim World League (MWL) to discuss challenges and opportunities on the said topic.

The minister said that Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had already sent invitations to 57 countries, out of which 48 confirmed their participation.

He said that a formal invitation had already been sent to Afghanistan to participate in this event and hopefully relevant officials from the neighbouring country will attend it.

“The conference will be presided over by PM Shehbaz. Whereas the conference’s keynote address would be delivered by Nobel Laureate and globally acclaimed advocate for girls’ education Malala Yousafzai,” he added.

The minister said that girls’ education was in a state of emergency in many Muslim countries and this conference would help finalise actionable plans.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025