The two-day 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women commenced in Islamabad today to discuss the socio-economic development of women.

On first day of the conference, different technical sessions were held during which agenda of the conference was approved and progress on the implementation of the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women was reviewed.

The participants held detailed discussions on the challenges facing women across the Muslim world, including their social, economic, and political empowerment, education, healthcare, economic opportunities, financial inclusion, effective participation in decision-making, and greater representation in technology and digital sectors.

The Chair of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference briefed the participants on the progress made under the OIC framework since the previous conference to advance women's empowerment.

Reports prepared by various institutions on women's development were also presented during the sessions.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister for Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar held separate meetings with ministers and senior officials from Iran, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen, as well as representatives of the Women Development Organization and the OIC Labour Centre.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Türkiye signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the fields of family affairs, social services, and social protection.

The visiting delegations expressed confidence in Pakistan as it prepares to assume the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women for the next two years. They also reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Pakistan to promote women's empowerment, family welfare, social protection, and human rights.

The ministerial session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women will be held in Islamabad tomorrow under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the session, the conference chairmanship will formally be transferred from Egypt to Pakistan.

The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration and a number of important resolutions aimed at promoting the development and empowerment of women.