ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said the advancement of women is essential to the progress and prosperity of the Muslim world, calling for greater efforts to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls.
Addressing the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan would discharge its OIC chairmanship with a spirit of responsibility, consensus, and cooperation.
He said women were making valuable contributions in parliament, the judiciary, civil service, business, and education, but noted that millions of women and girls across the Muslim world continued to face barriers to development.
“Women’s economic and political empowerment is indispensable for achieving sustainable development,” the minister said, adding that Muslim women had historically played significant roles in scholarship, leadership, entrepreneurship, and public service.
Tarar said Islam had granted women dignity, rights, and legal recognition more than 1,400 years ago, stressing that every woman and girl should have equal access to education, leadership, and opportunities for growth.
He described the OIC Action Plan and the Women Development Organization as important platforms for promoting women’s empowerment, adding that the success of the conference would ultimately be measured by the practical opportunities it creates for women.
The law minister said Pakistan was promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and leadership opportunities for women through initiatives such as the National Gender Policy 2025 and the Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package.
He reaffirmed that ensuring a safe and equal environment for women remains a government priority and emphasized that men and young people also have an important role to play in advancing gender equality.
