Islamabad: 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.

According to Radio Pakistan, Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized that women empowerment is crucial for sustainable development and social progress. She highlighted that women should not only benefit from development efforts but also play an active role in shaping them. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of government policies effectively reaching the women they are meant 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 noted that 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 detailed several initiatives such as 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar', interest-free business financing, digital and freelancing programmes, livestock asset transfers, and e-commerce facilities that are helping women achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life. Maryam Nawaz Sharif also mentioned the expansion of healthcare services for women through clinics on wheels, field hospitals, and maternal healthcare programmes, with more than sixty thousand female health workers providing services at the grassroots level.

The Chief Minister outlined dedicated measures 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. She emphasized that women empowerment is deeply rooted in Islamic teachings, which uphold the dignity, rights, and respect of women.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif concluded by inviting the conference participants to visit Punjab and experience Pakistan's rich cultural heritage and hospitality.