Doha, 17 Nov. 2024

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of  Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ambreen Jan expressed her admiration for the high level of participation and the wealth of ideas that emerged as the second edition of the Global Leadership Academy for Women began on Sunday.

Speaking exclusively on the sidelines of the conference, she highlighted that 'what stands out most is the event’s inclusive nature—men and women alike are equally engaged in seeking solutions that benefit not only women but society as a whole, fostering a more productive, peaceful, and meaningful world for everyone'.

She added, 'This has been an enriching learning experience for me, far exceeding my expectations in terms of exposure. The participants are highly engaged, and it’s inspiring to see so many diverse perspectives coming together to address shared challenges; it’s truly remarkable'.

Speaking on the role of women in Pakistan, Ambreen Jan noted that while progress has been gradual, it is indeed notable. Women’s representation in the National Assembly has improved significantly, with a 17.5 percent quota that has resulted in nearly 60 female members. Additionally, women’s presence in Provincial Assemblies is growing, and there have been substantial advancements in government ministries. For example, in the Ministry of Information, 42 percent of the staff are women, while in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, women make up 45 percent of the workforce, she noted.

Ambreen said this growth can be attributed to the supportive environment within these sectors, where women recognise the challenges they face and work collaboratively to overcome them. She added that this is a clear indication of Pakistan’s steady progress, though there is still further to go.

'In fact, Pakistan has achieved significant milestones and is ahead of many other nations. When I started my career, there were no female federal under-secretaries. Today, there are women heading critical ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with four women serving as federal secretaries. This is a remarkable achievement,” she stressed.

The four-day conference on ‘Women Leading in the 21st Century’, being held at the Hotel Wyntham Doha, West Bay on Sunday, has been organised by the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC) in collaboration with The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHARI); Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the United Nations (DPPA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The conference was opened by Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairperson, NHRC; and addressed by Dr Hamda bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Vice President of the Shura Council; Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali, Secretary General, ANNHARI; Shatha Alawneh, Programme Manager, GIZ; Ambassador Isabelle Martin, Head of Mission, Canada; and Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary general for Africa UNDPPA through video recording.

Earlier, Najia Hashemee, Advisor and Project Manager, UNDP, briefed the gathering on Global Leadership Academy for Women.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan told that on the education front, the government is focused on empowering girls, recognising that they make up nearly half of the country’s population and are vital to the nation’s development. While challenges remain due to social and economic factors, initiatives like the ‘Radio School’ program have helped increase access to education for girls, particularly in remote areas.

In her concluding comments, she said that the government of Pakistan is making steady progress toward ensuring equal educational opportunities, 'and we are on the right path to achieving this goal'.