Pakistan’s hospitality, commitment to women’s empowerment earn praise from OIC delegates

ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Pakistan’s warm hospitality, efficient organization and commitment to advancing women’s empowerment drew widespread appreciation from delegates attended the 9th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women describing the gathering as an important platform for strengthening cooperation and shaping a collective roadmap for the socio-economic and political empowerment of women.

Held here in the federal capital, the two-day ministerial conference brought together ministers, senior officials and representatives from OIC representatives from across the Muslim world, international organizations and partner institutions to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities facing women in the Islamic world and explore ways to strengthen collaboration through shared policies and initiatives.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Syrian Minister for Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat described her visit to Pakistan as both memorable and symbolic, saying Syria’s participation marked the return of Syrian women to an international conference after many years.

She praised Pakistan’s warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the event, saying delegates were made to feel at home from the moment they arrived. “Pakistan made us feel at home from the very first moment,” she remarked.

Kabawat said digital transformation and women’s affairs were among the key priorities of her ministry and expressed confidence that the conference would generate fresh ideas, strengthen partnerships among OIC member states and lead to practical initiatives benefiting women across the Islamic world.

Echoing similar sentiments, an OIC delegate said Pakistani women welcomed the visiting delegations not merely as guests but as sisters and members of one family, reflecting the country’s generosity, respect and spirit of Islamic brotherhood.

Representative of the Maldives delegation, Mariyam Raya Ahmed described the conference as an important opportunity to reinforce cooperation among Islamic countries on women’s development and gender equality.

She commended Pakistan for its excellent hospitality and arrangements and appreciated its role in bringing together OIC member states, particularly from the Asian region. She expressed optimism that the conference would deliver meaningful outcomes and further strengthen regional cooperation in the years ahead.

Secretary-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Family Affairs Council, Dr. Maimouna Al Khalil said the conference reflected the OIC’s firm commitment to placing women’s issues at the highest policy level and would help shape the organization’s agenda on women’s empowerment in the coming years.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s progress in advancing women’s economic and social participation, she said OIC member states had achieved notable progress but needed to intensify efforts to further strengthen women’s role in society and national development. She also praised Pakistan’s hospitality and the meticulous arrangements for the conference and expressed hope that the deliberations would culminate in meaningful initiatives and a strong declaration to guide future action.

Director Planning and International Cooperation at the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (OIC), Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh termed the conference a timely initiative to promote women’s empowerment while addressing misconceptions regarding the role of women in Islam. He emphasized that men and women have complementary responsibilities in building prosperous societies and appreciated Pakistan’s successful hosting of the conference, describing it as an opportunity to project the true Islamic perspective on women’s rights and contributions.

Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare of The Gambia, Isatou Jobe, said the conference highlighted Pakistan’s leadership role within the Muslim world and its continued commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. She said Pakistan’s initiatives in support of women were widely appreciated across OIC member states and expressed pleasure at participating in a country that consistently championed issues of importance to the Islamic world.

Representing Nigeria, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the conference came at a significant time as Nigeria continued to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening women’s socio-economic empowerment. She underlined the importance of placing women at the centre of national development through legal reforms, economic opportunities and social protection measures, and commended Pakistan’s outstanding hospitality.

She also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with fellow OIC member states to advance women’s economic, political and social participation through collective action and shared experiences.

Throughout the interactions, delegates repeatedly acknowledged Pakistan’s role in providing a welcoming environment that encouraged open dialogue and strengthened bonds among participating countries. Many expressed confidence that the conference would contribute to deeper cooperation and practical policy initiatives to improve the lives of women across the Muslim world.

The 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women was held under the theme “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward.” The conference sought to promote cooperation among OIC member states in expanding women’s participation in economic, social and political life while exchanging successful national experiences and identifying practical strategies to overcome shared challenges.

The conference was attended by Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as the chief guest, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, who assumed the chairmanship of the conference, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs of the OIC Ambassador Dr. Tarig Ali Bakheet, Executive Director of the Women’s Development Organization Sarah Al Shoura, President of Egypt’s National Council for Women Amal Ammar, President of the Women’s Consultative Council of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference Ambassador Naela Gabr, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Members of the National Assembly Saba Sadiq and Wajiha Qamar, representatives of international organizations, diplomats and delegates from across the Muslim world.