Islamabad will host the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Women from July 12‑13, with delegations arriving on Saturday.
The conference, themed “Socio‑Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in OIC Member States: Challenges and Path Forward,” is organized by the Ministry of Human Rights and will take place at the Jinnah Convention Centre.
It will convene ministers for women and family affairs, senior government officials, OIC institution representatives, international organisations, and development partners to discuss advancing women’s socio‑economic and political empowerment across OIC member states, according to state‑run APP.
Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar will chair the conference on Pakistan’s behalf.
As chair, Pakistan will lead the proceedings, collaborating closely with OIC member states to foster dialogue, build consensus, and advance collective initiatives for women’s empowerment throughout the Muslim world, APP reported.
The statement noted that Pakistan’s hosting underscores its steadfast commitment to OIC objectives and to strengthening cooperation among members in advancing women’s rights, dignity, and empowerment.
Over the two days, participating delegations will engage in high‑level discussions to review progress, exchange experiences and best practices, and identify practical pathways for enhancing women’s socio‑economic and political empowerment across OIC member states.
On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar posted on X, offering a warm welcome to the delegates and wishing them productive discussions and a memorable stay.
He shared an image indicating that representatives from all 57 OIC member states would convene in the federal capital for the conference.
Some of the visiting delegations were warmly received at Islamabad International Airport today 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, with senior officials from the human rights and foreign affairs ministries and other government representatives also present.
According to X posts from the human rights ministry, 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 Minister for Women and Children Affairs Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, and Iraq’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Dr. Zainab Al‑Mulla Al‑Sultani.
Pakistan ranked lowest among 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, with a gender parity score of 56.7%, the highest level since 2006.
This represents a second consecutive decline from the economy’s peak score of 57.7% achieved in 2023.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women in wage employment earn roughly 30% less per month than their male counterparts in Pakistan.
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