LAHORE, Jul 13 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for collective action through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance women’s empowerment, saying empowering women was not the success of one segment but the progress of the entire nation. Addressing the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, the chief minister welcomed delegates from member states and said it was an honour to address the gathering as …
CM calls for united OIC action to advance women’s empowerment
LAHORE, Jul 13 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for collective action through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance women’s empowerment, saying empowering women was not the success of one segment but the progress of the entire nation.
Addressing the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, the chief minister welcomed delegates from member states and said it was an honour to address the gathering as a woman leader, said a handout issued here.
She said Islam provided clear guidance on the rights, dignity and protection of women, urging Muslim countries to work together to ensure greater opportunities, inclusion and security for women.
Paying tribute to national role models, the CM said Fatima Jinnah had been a pillar of strength for Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, while her mother, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, had taught her courage, perseverance and resilience. She also acknowledged former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as the first woman to lead Pakistan and the Muslim world, saying her leadership had opened new avenues for women.
The CM said education, healthcare and employment were fundamental rights of women, stressing that women should not only participate in development but also lead it. She highlighted the Punjab government’s women-centric initiatives, saying women constituted more than 60 percent of beneficiaries under the provincial scholarship and laptop schemes.
She said flagship programmes, including Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar, Apni Zameen, Apna Rozgar, the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, livestock distribution for rural women, Sanatzar, IT skills training, internships and business financing initiatives, were helping women achieve economic independence.
CM Maryam Nawaz said the Dhee Rani Programme was supporting daughters from underprivileged families, while dedicated initiatives had also been launched for women lawyers and women with disabilities. She added that Clinics on Wheels, field hospitals and an extensive network of Lady Health Workers were expanding healthcare services for women across Punjab.
Highlighting economic empowerment, she said the Green Taxi Programme was creating employment opportunities while ensuring safer transport for women. Digital literacy and e-commerce initiatives, she added, were enabling rural women to participate in the global economy.
On women’s safety, the chief minister said more than three million women had benefited from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority’s digital services. She said 36 mobile police stations, over 900 mobile charging stations, functional panic buttons and the Virtual Police Station had significantly strengthened women’s access to security and emergency assistance, with the virtual platform alone assisting more than one million women.
Sharing her personal journey, the CM said she had learned the values of sacrifice and steadfastness while standing beside her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, during difficult times. She said challenges had strengthened her resolve and taught her that perseverance was the only path forward.
Calling for greater cooperation among OIC member states, the chief minister said every girl in the Muslim world deserved education, opportunity, dignity and the freedom to dream without fear. She said coordinated efforts through the OIC platform could ensure greater protection, inclusion and opportunities for women across the Islamic world.
She also invited conference participants to visit Lahore, describing the city as a symbol of history, culture, poetry and hospitality.
