OIC Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment Kicks Off in Islamabad Focused on Socio-Economic and Political Advancements
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) 9th Ministerial Conference on Women, hosted by Pakistan, commenced in Islamabad on Sunday with technical-level discussions.
Themed “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,” the conference is organized by Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights at the Jinnah Convention Centre.
As reported by state media, approximately 190 delegates, including ministers, senior officials, and representatives from all 57 OIC member states, are attending to address strategies for enhancing women’s participation in social, economic, and political spheres while fostering collaboration among member nations.
Key priorities include expanding women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, technology, and digital opportunities.
On Sunday, technical experts and senior officials held preparatory meetings to draft recommendations for final adoption by ministers, who will convene on Monday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to inaugurate the ministerial session on Monday.
Law and Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will oversee the conference on behalf of Pakistan.
Prior to Sunday’s proceedings, Tarar participated in a press conference in Islamabad, stating that Pakistan views hosting the event as an honor and an opportunity to showcase national initiatives for women’s empowerment and inclusive societal development.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja will attend the conference, according to Tarar. The event will conclude with the adoption of the “Islamabad Declaration,” a framework to advance women’s empowerment and promote sustainable development across OIC nations.
Pakistan also announced its formal assumption of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women chairmanship from Egypt for the next two years.
The Islamabad meeting builds on the 2021 Cairo conference outcomes and aims to reinvigorate collaborative efforts among OIC countries to expand opportunities for women and strengthen their societal, economic, and political roles, per Radio Pakistan’s reporting.
Notably, Pakistan ranked 148th in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, achieving only 56.7% gender parity—the lowest in 19 years. This marks a decline from its peak score of 57.7% in 2023.
Data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) indicates that women in wage employment earn approximately 30% less monthly than male counterparts in Pakistan.
