Pakistan Hosts Int’l Summit on Advancing Girls' Education in Muslim Communities
The conference, organized by Pakistan’s education ministry, aims to explore challenges and opportunities for improving girls’ education globally, the foreign office announced.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will open the summit with a keynote address, Arab News reported on Saturday.
Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui emphasized the event’s focus on implementing the Islamic principle that education is a right for both men and women.
“By promoting girls’ education, we can build better homes, a better society, and a stronger nation,” Siddiqui stated during a media briefing.
He also revealed plans to issue an "Islamabad Declaration" at the summit's conclusion, outlining actionable steps to enhance girls’ education across Islamic countries.
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Among the notable attendees are the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, and Egypt's Grand Mufti, Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayad. Pakistan has also invited Afghanistan to participate alongside other Islamic nations.
“We have extended an invitation to Afghanistan to participate in this conference and hope that their delegation will attend as it is a very important neighboring country,” Siddiqui remarked.
Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, over 1.4 million Afghan girls have been barred from attending secondary school, according to a UNICEF report released in August 2023. Siddiqui acknowledged cultural sensitivities but stressed that Islamic values should take precedence over traditional practices in Muslim societies.
“In Islam, there is no justification for restricting women’s education,” he said.
The summit is expected to foster international dialogue and generate actionable outcomes for transforming the landscape of girls' education in Muslim communities worldwide.
Source: Agencies
