ISLAMABAD, SEP 9 /DNA/ – Acting President of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani has said that Pakistan’s democratic strength, economic progress and social cohesion cannot be fully realized unless women participate equally in shaping the country’s institutions, economy and future. He expressed these views while addressing the Pakistan Women Leadership & Policy Summit 2026, organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).Â
The Acting President said that women’s participation in leadership and decision-making was essential for building an inclusive and progressive society. He emphasized that women should have meaningful opportunities to contribute to public institutions, economic activity and national policymaking, adding that their voices and perspectives could enrich the quality of decisions and strengthen democratic governance.
He highlighted the need for policies that create an enabling environment for women to advance in entrepreneurship, employment, education, technology and public life. He said Pakistan must continue removing barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential and ensure that national development policies reflect the aspirations and needs of all segments of society.
The Acting President said that empowering women was not simply a matter of equality but an important driver of economic growth and national development. He appreciated the role of the business community and institutions such as ICCI in promoting women’s economic empowerment and creating platforms for meaningful dialogue, expressing the hope that the Summit would contribute practical recommendations for strengthening women’s leadership and participation in Pakistan’s future.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said that women’s leadership was no longer merely a matter of social inclusion but a strategic necessity for Pakistan’s economic transformation. He stressed that women must be provided equal opportunities in entrepreneurship, employment, technology, policy making and leadership, while public policies should remove structural barriers restricting their participation in the economy. He said Pakistan could not achieve sustainable and inclusive growth by leaving a significant portion of its human capital underutilized.
He also drew attention to the growing challenges facing Islamabad, particularly the financial constraints affecting the capital’s development. He emphasized that Islamabad should be given a reasonable share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, arguing that the capital should not remain deprived of its due fiscal resources while facing increasing demands for infrastructure, municipal services and urban development. He said that a fair and appropriate fiscal mechanism for Islamabad was essential to address its growing development needs and enable the capital to keep pace with the country’s overall progress.
The panelists discussed women’s leadership, representation in policy making, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, institutional reforms and creating an enabling environment for greater participation of women in national development. They emphasized the importance of inclusive policies, leadership development, equal opportunities and stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and civil society to translate women’s potential into tangible economic and social gains.
ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub performed the responsibilities of stage secretary. In the vote of thanks, ICCI Vice President expressed gratitude to Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani for gracing the Summit. Chairman ICCI Standing Committee on Social Mobilization and Communication Kashif Qureshi and Vice Chairperson Muqaddas Choudhry also addressed the ceremony.
ICCI former President Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi, Executive Members Ms. Fatima Azim, Zulqurnain Abbasi and Imran Minhas, and former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry were also present.
