Pakistan and Turkiye signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in family affairs, social services, and social protection during a meeting between Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and his Turkish counterpart, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, on Sunday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, where the two ministers discussed women's rights, the family system, and social protection.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Human Rights, the two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation on women's and children's rights, as well as the protection of the family system in the digital space. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting family welfare, enhancing social protection, exchanging expertise, and advancing joint initiatives. Pakistan and Turkiye also agreed to further strengthen cooperation on women's rights, social welfare, and institutional collaboration.
Pakistan Hosts 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women
Earlier, Tarar, addressing a press conference in Islamabad, said that hosting the two-day 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women is a distinct honor for Pakistan, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. The law minister said Pakistan would utilise this high-level forum to highlight the government's initiatives aimed at women's empowerment and building an inclusive society.
Tarar said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and a large number of women will also participate in the conference. The conference titled “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Countries: Challenges and Way Forward” may bring together around 190 delegates from the 57 OIC member states, including ministers, senior government officials, and prominent women leaders.
Islamabad Declaration to Be Adopted
The law minister announced that the "Islamabad Declaration" will be adopted at the conclusion of the conference. Tarar highlighted that it is a matter of great pride that Pakistan will hold the chair of the conference for the next two years. He said Pakistan is fully prepared to fulfill its obligations. He said the representatives of 57 OIC member countries are participating in the conference, while various technical working groups are also part of the conference. He said technical sessions of the conference are underway today, while the central ministerial meeting will be held tomorrow. Tarar expressed the government's resolve to further advance the agenda of protecting women's rights.
Delegates Welcomed at Islamabad Airport
The foreign delegations were received at the Islamabad International Airport by Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Saba Sadiq, and Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Farah Naz Akbar, along with other senior government officials, on Saturday.
Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar was tasked by the government to preside over the women's ministerial conference to ascertain that the country worked closely with member OIC states to advance efforts towards the empowerment of women across the Muslim world. He was also assigned to foster dialogue and build consensus towards the unified cause of gender equality during the two-day conference.
Conference Aims to Empower Women
The conference aims to empower women by promoting their social, economic, political, and professional participation while advancing inclusive and sustainable development across the Muslim world. The delegates are expected to deliberate on measures to expand women's access to economic opportunities, financial systems, entrepreneurship, technology, as well as digital platforms, the statement read further. The conference shall build on the outcomes of previous OIC ministerial meetings on women, particularly the eighth session held in Cairo in 2021, which focused on women's empowerment, protection frameworks and enhancing their socio-economic participation. As the host, Pakistan remains committed to utilising the conference as a platform to reaffirm its commitment to consolidating cooperation among OIC member states to reduce gender gaps and ensure inclusive development across all sectors.
