High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri emphasises importance of girls’ education
Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri this week emphasised the importance of girls education.
Referring to the International Partnerships for Education in Muslim Societies platform inaugurated at the ‘Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities’ conference on January 11-12, 2025, organized by the Government of Pakistan and the Muslim World League, he said Pakistan was committed to provide equal opportunities to the men and women.
This girls education initiative aims to create a network dedicated to advancing girls’ education in Muslim communities worldwide.
The two-day summit hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) concluded in Islamabad, with participating leaders and scholars emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring education for girls across the Muslim world.
The conference, which focused on the education of Muslim girls, ended with a resolution urging governments to prioritize access to education for all. Delegates reaffirmed that denying education to women and girls is a profound injustice that should not be associated with Islam.
Speaking at the summit, Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and President of the International Islamic Scholars Organization, condemned restrictions on education for women and girls. He called such policies “unjust” and “categorically contrary to Islamic teachings.”
“Denying women and girls access to education, whether partially or fully, and associating such denial with Islamic law, is categorically incorrect,” Mr. Al-Issa said. He also urged governments to avoid misusing religion to justify oppressive policies, describing education as a fundamental right affirmed by a consensus of Muslim scholars.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, calling restrictions on education for girls “the most significant challenge of our time.”
The conference concluded with calls for concrete actions, including agreements between Islamic institutions to support education initiatives for girls. Delegates emphasized that providing education to women and girls is not only a moral imperative but also essential for the future of Muslim communities worldwide.
High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri hoped the efforts to promote girls education will succeed to ensure a peaceful world.
