ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host over 150 dignitaries from 44 Muslim and other friendly states for an international conference on girls’ education in Muslim communities from Jan. 11-12 in the federal capital, the foreign office said on Wednesday.
The global summit aims to address the challenges and opportunities in advancing girls’ education across Muslim communities worldwide. The foreign office said the conference also aims to foster dialogue, find actionable solutions to address challenges and will provide an ideal platform for high-level discussions and collaborations.
Pakistan’s education ministry will host the conference titled: “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities.”
“The event will bring together over 150 international dignitaries, including ministers, ambassadors, scholars and academia from 44 Muslim and friendly countries, representatives from international organizations including UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank,” the foreign office said.
“Speakers and panelists will share transformative success stories, showcasing innovative approaches to advancing education equity.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the event and deliver the keynote address at the opening session. The foreign office said that the Pakistani premier will reaffirm the nation’s commitment to promoting girls’ education and gender equality.
It said the conference will conclude with a formal signing ceremony of the Islamabad Declaration, outlining the shared commitment of Muslim community to empower girls through education, paving way for inclusive and sustainable educational reforms, and a brighter future for generations to come.
Pakistan to host over 150 dignitaries from Jan. 11-12 for girls’ education summit
https://arab.news/44c29
Pakistan to host over 150 dignitaries from Jan. 11-12 for girls’ education summit
- Ministers, ambassadors, scholars and academia from 44 Muslim and friendly countries to attend summit, says foreign office
- Summit aims to address challenges and opportunities in advancing girls’ education across Muslim communities worldwide
Pakistan terms climate change, demographic pressures as ‘pressing existential risks’
- Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters, including floods this year that killed over 1,000
- Pakistan finmin highlights stabilization measures at Doha Forum, discusses economic cooperation with Qatar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday described climate change and demographic pressures as “pressing existential risks” facing the country, calling for urgent climate financing.
The finance minister was speaking as a member of a high-level panel at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, which is being held from Dec. 6–7 in the Qatari capital. Aurangzeb was invited as a speaker on the discussion titled: ‘Global Trade Tensions: Economic Impact and Policy Responses in MENA.’
“He reaffirmed that while Pakistan remained vigilant in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, the more pressing existential risks were climate change and demographic pressures,” the Finance Division said.
Pakistan has suffered repeated climate disasters in recent years, most notably the 2022 super-floods that submerged one-third of the country, displaced millions and caused an estimated $30 billion in losses.
This year’s floods killed over 1,000 people and caused at least $2.9 billion in damages to agriculture and infrastructure. Scientists say Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Aurangzeb has previously said climate change and Pakistan’s fast-rising population are the only two factors that can hinder the South Asian country’s efforts to become a $3 trillion economy in the future.
The finance minister noted that this year’s floods in Pakistan had shaved at least 0.5 percent off GDP growth, calling for urgent climate financing and investment in resilient infrastructure.
When asked about Pakistan’s fiscal resilience and capability to absorb external shocks, Aurangzeb said Islamabad had rebuilt fiscal buffers. He pointed out that both the primary fiscal balance and current account had returned to surplus, supported significantly by strong remittance inflows of $18–20 billion annually from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.
Separately, Aurangzeb met his Qatari counterpart Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari to discuss bilateral cooperation.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties, particularly by maximizing opportunities created through the newly concluded GCC–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, expanding trade flows, and deepening energy cooperation, including long-term LNG collaboration,” the finance ministry said.
The two also discussed collaboration on digital infrastructure, skills development and regulatory reform. They agreed to establish structured mechanisms to continue joint work in trade diversification, technology, climate resilience, and investment facilitation, the finance ministry said.
