LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday called for a united effort through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance women’s empowerment, saying empowering women was not the success of one segment but the progress of the entire nation.
Addressing the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, the CM welcomed delegates from OIC member states and said it was an honour to address the conference as a woman leader. She said Islam provided clear guidance on the rights, dignity and protection of women.
Paying tribute to national role models, Maryam Nawaz said Fatima Jinnah had been a pillar of strength for Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, while her mother, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, had taught her courage, perseverance and resilience. She also acknowledged former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as the first woman to lead Pakistan and the Muslim world, saying her leadership opened new avenues for women.
The CM said education, healthcare and employment were fundamental rights of women and stressed the need for collective action to address women’s challenges across the Muslim world. She said women should not merely participate in development but lead it.
Highlighting the Punjab government’s initiatives, she said women constituted more than 60 percent of beneficiaries under the provincial scholarship and laptop schemes. She said programmes such as Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar, Apni Zameen, Apna Rozgar, the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, livestock distribution for rural women, Sanatzar, IT skills training, internships and business financing were enabling women to achieve economic independence.
She said the Dhee Rani Programme was supporting daughters from underprivileged families, while dedicated initiatives had also been launched for women lawyers and women with disabilities. She added that Clinics on Wheels, field hospitals and an extensive network of Lady Health Workers were expanding healthcare services for women across Punjab.
Referring to economic empowerment, the CM said the Green Taxi Programme was creating employment opportunities while ensuring safe transport for women. She added that digital literacy and e-commerce initiatives were helping rural women become part of the global economy.
Emphasising women’s safety, the CM said more than three million women had benefited from the Safe City Authority’s digital services. She said 36 mobile police stations, over 900 mobile charging stations and functional panic buttons had been introduced across Punjab to enhance women’s security, while the Virtual Police Station had assisted more than one million women.
Speaking about her personal experiences, Maryam Nawaz said she had learned the values of sacrifice and steadfastness while standing beside her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, during difficult times. She said challenges had strengthened her resolve and taught her that perseverance was the only path forward.
Calling for greater cooperation among OIC member states, the CM said every girl in the Muslim world deserved education, opportunity, dignity and the freedom to dream without fear. She said joint efforts through the OIC platform could ensure greater protection, inclusion and opportunities for women across the Islamic world.
She also invited conference participants to visit Lahore, describing the city as a symbol of history, culture, poetry and hospitality.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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