Keynote Remarks by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Empowering Women in Pakistan through Education and Microfinance (UN Side-Event, 13 March 2026)

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad frames the empowerment of women as a function of education and economic inclusion, linking the issue to the sustainable development goals on education, gender equality, and reducing inequalities. He emphasizes that education is about dignity, agency, and shaping a woman’s destiny, and that educated girls gain the confidence to participate in society while economic opportunities help families, communities, and economies thrive. The remarks underscore that despite global progress, millions of girls face barriers due to poverty, discrimination, displacement, and conflict, with education often disrupted in crisis zones; this is particularly acute in conflict-affected regions such as Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where movement restrictions, violence, and instability hamper schooling. Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to empowerment through education and economic inclusion, citing Article 25-A in the constitution guaranteeing free and compulsory education, and highlighting programs like Wasila-e-Taleem under the Benazir Income Support Program plus investments in school infrastructure and scholarships. Progress is noted in higher education, where women increasingly constitute a majority in several disciplines, and in the economy where technical training, digital skills, and university-based incubators prepare women for a technology-driven global market. The remarks also highlight financial inclusion as a pillar, detailing microfinance and entrepreneurship initiatives such as the Prime Ministers Youth Programme and the Akhuwat Foundation, which offers interest-free microfinance to empower women to start small enterprises. The speaker argues that empowering women yields stronger growth, resilience, and inclusive development, urging a global responsibility to ensure every girl can learn and every woman can participate economically. The address concludes with a call for continued dialogue and a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to advancing education and economic opportunity for women, ending with anticipation for the panel discussion.