Islamabad opens OIC women’s conference as delegations arrive for two-day meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to preside over a two-day ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on women’s empowerment, with foreign delegations reaching the federal capital ahead of the event starting on Sunday.

The 9th Ministerial Conference on Women will take place on July 12 and 13 at the Jinnah Convention Centre under the theme Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward. The conference is being organised by the Ministry of Human Rights.

According to state-run APP, the meeting will bring together ministers handling women and family affairs, senior officials from member states, representatives of OIC bodies, international organisations and development partners. The stated purpose of the gathering is to examine progress, share experiences and best practices, and discuss practical steps to strengthen women’s socio-economic and political participation across OIC countries.

Law, Justice and Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will chair the conference on Pakistan’s behalf. APP said that, as chair, Pakistan will steer the proceedings and coordinate with OIC member states to promote dialogue, build consensus and support collective efforts related to women’s empowerment in the Muslim world.

Delegations begin arriving

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the visiting representatives in a post on X on Saturday. He extended a "warm welcome" to participants and wished them "productive discussions and a memorable stay". He also shared an image stating that representatives from 57 OIC member states would assemble in Islamabad for the conference.

Some of the incoming delegations were received at Islamabad International Airport by Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Saba Sadiq, and Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Farah Naz Akbar. Senior officials from the ministries of human rights and foreign affairs, along with other government representatives, were also present.

Posts on X from the Ministry of Human Rights said the participants include Saudi Arabia’s Family Affairs Council Secretary General Dr Maimoonah Khalil Alkhalil, Egypt’s National Council for Women President Amal Ammar, Bangladesh’s Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, and Iraq’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Dr Zainab Al-Mulla Al-Sultani.

The ministry also listed Libya’s Minister of State for Women’s Affairs Grebe Randa, Yemen’s Minister of State for Women’s Affairs Dr Ahed Mohammed Jassous, Nigeria’s Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Somalia’s Family and Human Rights Development Minister Khadija Makhzoumi, and Mauritania’s Social Affairs Ministry Secretary General Hamoudi Cheikhna Ali among those attending.

Pakistan context

The conference is opening as Pakistan continues to face serious gender disparities. The country placed last among 148 economies in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, recording 56.7 per cent gender parity. That score was described as the highest since 2006, but it also marked a second straight decline from Pakistan’s best reading of 57.7pc in 2023.

Separate figures cited from the International Labour Organisation show that women in wage employment in Pakistan earn about 30 per cent less per month than men.

APP said Pakistan’s hosting of the conference reflects its commitment to OIC goals and to deeper cooperation among member countries on women’s rights, dignity and empowerment.