Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has urged the Muslim world to work together to ensure that every girl has access to education, every woman has equal opportunities, and every mother and daughter can live with dignity, security, and hope.

She was addressing the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Women in Islamabad today.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif said women empowerment is the key to sustainable development and social progress, emphasizing that women must not only benefit from development but also play an active role in shaping it. She stressed that the government policies must effectively reach the women they are intended to serve.

Highlighting the Punjab government's initiatives, she said women have been provided equal opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, digital skills, public safety, and economic empowerment.

The Chief Minister said sixty percent of the beneficiaries of the scholarship and laptop schemes are female students, enabling thousands of young women to pursue higher education and participate in the digital economy.

She said initiatives such as 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar', interest-free business financing, digital and freelancing programmes, livestock asset transfers, and e-commerce facilities are helping women achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the Punjab government has also expanded healthcare services for women through clinics on wheels, field hospitals, and maternal healthcare programmes, while more than sixty thousand female health workers are providing healthcare services at the grassroots level.

She said dedicated measures have been introduced to ensure women's safety, including the expansion of Safe City projects, Women Protection Centres, virtual women police stations, mobile police stations, women safety applications, and safety zones equipped with emergency facilities.

The Punjab Chief Minister said women empowerment is deeply rooted in Islamic teachings, which uphold the dignity, rights, and respect of women.

She also invited the conference participants to visit Punjab and experience Pakistan's rich cultural heritage and hospitality.