ISLAMABAD — The federal capital is set to host the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from Sunday, July 12, drawing approximately 190 delegates from the 57 member states to focus on the socio-economic and political empowerment of women across the Muslim world.
Organized by the Ministry of Human Rights at the Jinnah Convention Centre, the two-day summit—themed “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward”—will bring together gender and family affairs ministers, senior diplomats, and international development partners. Federal Minister for Law, Justice, and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar will chair the proceedings on behalf of Pakistan, spearheading efforts to build institutional consensus, improve financial inclusion, and bridge the digital gender gap across member nations.
Warm welcome to all delegates arriving for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad. We wish you productive discussions & a memorable stay in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/LpkSKrhHrq
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 11, 2026
High-level delegations began arriving at Islamabad International Airport on Saturday, where they were received by Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, alongside Parliamentary Secretaries Saba Sadiq and Farah Naz Akbar. Key foreign dignitaries attending the conference include Saudi Arabia’s Family Affairs Council Secretary General Dr. Maimoonah Khalil Alkhalil, Egypt’s National Council for Women President Amal Ammar, and Bangladesh’s Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, alongside top ministers from Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Mauritania. Welcoming the visitors, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed optimism for productive policy dialogue, while the OIC emphasized that the summit aims to create enabling environments for women’s full professional participation.
The conference arrives at a critical juncture for the host nation as it addresses its own domestic gender disparity challenges. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, Pakistan ranked lowest among 148 countries with a 56.7 percent gender parity score, marking a consecutive decline from its peak of 57.7 percent in 2023 despite tracking long-term structural improvements since 2006.
Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Human Rights proudly hosts the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women on 12–13 July 2026 at Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan.@GovtofPakistan @demp_moib @ForeignOfficePk @mohrpakistan @OIC_OCI #OICinPakistan2026 #9thOICWomen pic.twitter.com/Ampiv0etTC
— Ministry of Human Rights (@mohrpakistan) July 10, 2026
Furthermore, data from the International Labour Organization underscores pressing economic hurdles, showing that women in formal wage employment across Pakistan currently earn roughly 30 percent less than their male counterparts. Local organizers note that hosting the ministerial moot reflects Pakistan’s strategic commitment to reinforcing regional human rights frameworks while exchanging policy best practices to address these systemic wage and structural gaps.
