ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance joint projects relating to family and social security services, Pakistan’s information ministry said on Sunday, as Islamabad opened a two-day Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on women.
The signing took place in a meeting between Pakistan Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Turkish Minister for Family and Social Services Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas during the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.
Pakistan is hosting ministers responsible for women and family affairs, senior government officials, representatives of OIC institutions, international organizations, and development partners at the two-day conference being held under the theme, “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and the Way Forward.”
“Pakistan and Turkiye signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the field of family, social services and social security,” the information ministry said in a post on X.
“Pakistan and Turkiye agreed to further strengthen family welfare, women’s rights, social security and institutional cooperation, exchange experiences and advance joint projects.”
Tarar and Goktas also agreed to strengthen cooperation on protecting families, promoting the rights of women and children in the digital space, and advancing joint policy initiatives.
Separately, Tarar met Secretary General of Saudi Arabia’s Family Affairs Council Dr. Maimunah Al-Khalil to discuss women empowerment, strengthening of the family system and OIC cooperation.
“Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to further promoting women’s empowerment, strengthening the family system, and joint cooperation on the OIC platform,” the Pakistani information ministry said.
The Pakistan law minister also discussed women rights and cooperation among OIC members during his meeting with Iranian Vice President for Women and Family affairs Dr. Zahra Behrouz Azar.
“The two leaders agreed to further strengthen the historical, religious, cultural and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran and to take joint steps to promote women’s rights,” the Pakistani ministry said.
It added that the meeting decided to highlight the plight of women in Palestine and Afghanistan on the OIC platform, with the aim of adopting a joint action plan for their welfare. Azar also welcomed Pakistan’s upcoming two-year chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.
Delegates from 57 OIC member states are attending the conference to review progress on women’s rights, share national policies and adopt new frameworks.
