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• Technical sessions held ahead of ministerial meeting; recommendations to be presented today
• Pakistan to assume chairmanship of event for next two years
• Islamabad Declaration to outline framework for advancing women’s empowerment across member countries
ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) 9th Ministerial Conference on Women, hosted by Pakistan, began here on Sunday with technical-level sessions.
The two-day conference, titled “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward”, is being organised by the human rights ministry at the Jinnah Convention Centre.
The conference has brought together around 190 delegates, including ministers, senior government officials and representatives from the OIC’s 57 member states, to discuss ways to enhance women’s social, economic and political participation and strengthen cooperation among member countries.
The event is focused on expanding women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, technology and digital opportunities.
On Sunday, technical experts and senior officials held preparatory sessions to finalise recommendations for consideration by ministers, who will meet on Monday (today).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to inaugurate the ministerial session today.
Law and Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will chair the conference on behalf of Pakistan.
Ahead of Sunday’s session, he addressed a press conference in Islamabad, where he said hosting the conference was an honour for Pakistan.
He was accompanied by parliamentarians Wajeeha Qamar and Saba Sadiq.
‘Islamabad Declaration’
Mr Tarar said Pakistan would “utilise this high-level forum to highlight the government’s initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment and building an inclusive society”.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja would also attend the conference, he said, adding that the moot would conclude with the adoption of an “Islamabad Declaration”, outlining a common framework for advancing women’s empowerment and promoting inclusive and sustainable development across OIC member states.
He further announced that Pakistan would formally assume the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women from Egypt for the next two years.
On the sidelines of the event, Mr Tarar met Counsellor Sarah Ismail Al Shoura, executive director of the Women Development Organisation (WDO).
They agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of women’s empowerment, socio-economic development and institutional collaboration.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation under the OIC framework through capacity building, exchange of expertise and best practices, and joint initiatives aimed at advancing women’s rights and enhancing opportunities for women across OIC member countries.
Mr Tarar also met Jalila Allahverdiyeva, head of the administrative division of the OIC Labour Centre in Azerbaijan, during which they held detailed discussions on women’s rights, social development and the promotion of bilateral cooperation.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the conference, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat described her participation in the event as a significant milestone, saying the gathering reflected the unity of women across the Muslim world and offered a valuable opportunity to advance women’s empowerment, human rights and shared cooperation.
Ms Kabawat said the conference held special significance for Syria, noting that her country had been unable to participate in such gatherings since 2012.
“Following Syria’s liberation and the end of dictatorship, we are now free to be here and to raise our voice for Syrian women who made tremendous sacrifices for freedom,” she said. She also paid tribute to Syrian women living in refugee camps and those displaced by conflict, saying they had shown extraordinary resilience throughout the country’s difficult years.
Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2026
