Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting to review preparations for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, which will be hosted by Pakistan in early 2026.
Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to ensuring the success of the upcoming conference and underscored the importance of advancing women's issues within the OIC framework. He highlighted Pakistan's proactive role in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, and underscored the need for close coordination with the OIC to achieve these shared goals.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Ministers for Law and Justice, and IT and Telecommunication; the SAPM on Foreign Affairs; SAPM Tariq Bajwa; the Secretaries of Cabinet Division, Human Rights, and Information; Pakistan's PR to OIC; and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.
Meanwhile Ambassador-designate to the UAE, Shafqat Ali Khan paid a farewell call on Ishaq Dar.
Tishaq Dar commended Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan's contributions as Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly in effectively articulating Pakistan's foreign policy narrative.
He highlighted the deep, fraternal Pak-UAE ties, urging the Ambassador-designate to leverage his experience to further strengthen this vital relationship. He instructed the Ambassador-designate to prioritize the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora in the UAE.
Meanwhile Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on the promotion and revival of hockey. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Minister for Information, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, DG PSB, and senior officials including the Secretary and Vice President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Discussions focused on restoring Pakistan's legacy in world hockey through grassroots development, improved infrastructure, modern coaching, and merit-based player growth.
Ishaq Dar emphasized that hockey is a symbol of national pride and deserves renewed investment and attention at every level. He reaffirmed the government's full support for revitalizing the sport and directed the formulation of a comprehensive revival roadmap aimed at enhancing facilities and reigniting youth participation.