(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan will host two-day International Conference On “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: challenges and opportunities from today.
The World Education Conference will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who will deliver the keynote address at the opening session and reaffirming the nation’s commitment to promoting girls’ education and gender equity. World Muslim League Secretary General Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa and OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha have arrived in Islamabad to attend the World Education Conference on Girls’ Education. OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha arrived in Islamabad to attend the conference and was received by Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool. OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha and World Muslim League Secretary General Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, eminent figures in the fields of religion and philanthropy, arrived in Pakistan on a landmark visit aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation. As Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Council of Muslim Scholars, Dr. Al-Issa has long been a pioneer in promoting a more inclusive and tolerant understanding of Islam. In 2019, he led a landmark dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim scholars, which resulted in the signing of the “Makkah Charter,” a testament to his commitment to promoting understanding and mutual respect. Dr. Al-Issa’s visit program also includes high-level meetings with key figures from the Pakistani government, emphasizing the importance of promoting strong diplomatic and cultural ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The theme of the conference is ‘Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities’
150 educationists, religious scholars, diplomats and prominent political figures from 47 countries will participate in the conference.
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will participate in the conference on women’s education in Islamabad on Sunday.
It should be noted that as the host, Pakistan has invited Afghanistan to participate in the International Girls’ Education Conference. Afghanistan is the only country in the world where there are restrictions on women’s education.
It should be noted that Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai will participate in the summit on girls’ education in Pakistan. Malala wrote in a post on ‘X’ that ‘I am excited to join Muslim leaders from around the world in a conference on girls’ education’.
Malala Yousafzai was sent abroad in 2012 after being shot by the Pakistani Taliban, angering some in Pakistan with her activism, and has only returned to the country once since.
Malala Yousafzai said she would speak on Sunday about protecting the right of all girls to go to school, including why world leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for crimes against Afghan women and girls.
A spokesperson for the Malala Fund charity confirmed that she would attend the summit in person. The two-day summit will be held in the capital Islamabad, focusing on girls’ education in the Muslim community.
The OIC’s special representative for Afghanistan, Tariq Bakht, and other OIC officials will also attend the conference.
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, says more than one million girls have been affected by the ban.
However, the organization estimates that five million girls were out of school before the Taliban took over, due to lack of facilities and other problems.
The ban on girls’ education was condemned internationally and is one of the obstacles to the Taliban’s recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. But the Taliban reject this international response and, by taking further similar measures, have deprived women and girls not only of higher education but also of most public jobs.
The Taliban banned girls from attending school after the sixth grade because they said it was not in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia. They did not ban boys from attending school. The Taliban have made no progress in the past three years in creating the conditions they say are necessary for girls to attend classes.
The Taliban leadership believes that women should not participate in any kind of social or public affairs and should especially be kept out of education.
The Taliban banned girls’ education in the late 1990s, when they took control of Afghanistan.
According to UN figures, Afghan girls aged 15 to 19 have a high fertility rate and do not have a secondary or higher education.
Aid groups say that the hardships faced by families make girls more vulnerable to child labour and early marriage if they are not in school.
The Taliban have waged a decades-long jihad to enforce their view of sharia law. They are not backing down easily. Sanctions, asset freezes, lack of official recognition and widespread condemnation have not deterred them.
Countries with ties to the Taliban can use their influence in this regard. But their priorities are different. As a result, the possibility of a consensus on girls’ education is reduced. There is a desire among the Afghan people that the Taliban should gain some international acceptance so that the economy can develop, even if it is not fully recognized.
Public opinion is more relevant and influential today than it was during the Taliban era in the 1990s. Internal pressure from the Afghan people will eventually make a difference, but it may take years for the consequences of this ban on girls to have an impact on Afghan men and create an atmosphere of unrest. Right now, this ban is only affecting girls, and it is mostly women who have protested against these restrictions.
It should be remembered that a nation does not deserve any glory, whose women are not yet awake. It is hoped that the International Girls’ Education Conference can change the position of the Afghan government leaders. Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that the Islamic world is at a decisive juncture due to its circumstances, the World Education Conference in Islamabad is an important milestone, the conference is of great importance in the field of education. The Islamic world has a lot to do to promote modern education. Pakistan has also invited the Afghan government to participate in the International Girls Education Conference. We value the traditions of Afghan society. It should be noted that yesterday, Federal Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while talking about organizing an education conference in Islamabad, had said that all four provincial education ministers will participate in the conference, and the chief ministers will also participate in the education conference. Now the goal of women’s education is a better home, a better generation and a better future, this conference will be called the International Conference on Muslim Women, Challenges and Opportunities. The Federal Education Minister said that cooperation among Islamic countries is necessary to face the challenges, half of Pakistan’s population is women, further, the theme of the first session of the speakers’ conference of the jointly organized program of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the Muslim World League on the topic “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities, Challenges and Opportunities” is Women’s Education: Obstacles and Their Solutions and the keynote speakers are Dr. Bushra Mirza, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Women’s University Rawalpindi, Dr. Anila Cama, Vice Chancellor, Rawalpindi Women’s University Rawalpindi, while the topic of the second session is Women’s Education and Islamic Charter. The keynote speakers are Professor Dr. Anis Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Rafah International University Islamabad, Ms. Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, former Chairperson, University of Karachi, the topic of the third session is “Information Technology and Women’s Education”. The keynote speakers are Ms. Ayesha Moryani. Additional Secretary (In-Charge) Ministry of Climate Change Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum Executive Director HEC Islamabad The theme of the fourth session is “The Role of Women in Peacebuilding”. The speakers of the conference are Ms. Bella Jamil, CEO, Idara Taleem Wa Ahahi (ITA), Education and Awareness Center Lahore, Ms. Amna Rasool Bernardo, President, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), Philippines and Mr. Jamshed Qazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan. The International Partnerships for Education in Muslim Societies Platform will be inaugurated on January 11, 2025, at a global conference titled “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities” in Islamabad, Pakistan. The main objective of the conference is to establish a collaborative network between governments, Islamic organizations and civil society to advance girls’ education in Muslim communities. Education is what enhances the consciousness of a nation and teaches the new generation how to live. The fact is that the role of women of any nation is important and even central in enlightening the religion of any nation and its youth as a whole, enriching them with civilization and culture, adorning them with noble qualities and beautiful features, and promoting their righteous development.
This is why, while Islam has placed special emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge on the one hand, on the other hand, it has not differentiated between men and women in it and has declared it equally and obligatory for both. ’ It is obligatory on every Muslim, whether male or female, to acquire knowledge.
‘It is clear from the Quran and Hadith that the formation of society is not limited to men only, but women also have equal rights in it.
A woman also has domestic responsibilities, but this does not mean that she is forbidden from doing other worldly work besides household chores. Rather, after fulfilling her domestic responsibilities, she can participate in scientific, literary and reformist work according to her taste and inclination. A Muslim woman can be a doctor, professor, engineer, scholar, poet, writer and researcher, etc., because this is her birthright.
In Surah Al-Alaq, it is made clear without distinguishing between men and women that the concept of knowledge in Islam is very broad and includes all those sciences that are beneficial to humanity.
In many verses of the Holy Quran, everyone was invited to reflect and think. The Prophet himself paid special attention to the education of women and said regarding the verses of Surah Al-Baqarah:
“Learn them yourselves and teach them to your women.”
Similarly, the Prophet also advised the delegations:
“Return to your homes, stay with your families, teach them the religion and make them act on the religious injunctions.” At the 23rd session of the Islamic Fiqh Academy, managed by the Islamic World Federation, it was suggested to Muslims around the world to provide women with the opportunity to acquire useful knowledge in various fields.Speaking to the media, renowned educationist Madam Nasreen Akhtar, Regional Director Rawalpindi Allama Iqbal Open University, said that the two-day International Education Conference on the theme “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities” in Islamabad is a ray of hope and progress for the Muslim world, which symbolizes a collective commitment to education.
She said that the international conference is a reaffirmation of the nation’s commitment to promoting girls’ education and gender equality in Pakistan.
She said that the important challenges faced by Muslim countries in Pakistan and the need for education to address them are being addressed. This conference reflects Pakistan’s contribution to education in the Islamic world and a shared recognition of the importance of modern education. Girls’ education is the most effective means of economic development, improving health outcomes and promoting social stability. The educationist said that educated women appear united to address the challenges, the aim of the conference is to remove obstacles to girls’ education. No nation can make real progress when women are marginalized. She said that Islam has supported the pursuit of knowledge for both men and women.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) made the pursuit of knowledge an obligation for all Muslims, and this conference is a timely reminder of the values enshrined in Islam. Educating girls is not just about empowering individuals, it is about transforming societies.
She said that educated mothers are the foundation of future generations and play a role in building a society based on justice and progress.
The impact of educating women is far-reaching, affecting everything from public health to economic stability. She said that this conference is an opportunity to set an example for the Islamic world by investing in girls’ education, promoting comprehensive policies.
