Dar vows strong commitment to women’s empowerment and welfare

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday reaffirmed the

government’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment and the promotion of

essential welfare initiatives aimed at demonstrably improving socio-economic conditions across

Pakistan. Speaking at the formal inauguration of the Annual Charity Bazaar 2025, an event

meticulously organized by the Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA), he

offered high praise for the Association’s longstanding humanitarian contributions and

distinguished service, which he characterized as truly & quot; beyond duty." Foreign Secretary Amna

Baloch accompanied the Deputy PM as they visited various country stalls set up vibrantly at the

event in Islamabad.

This year's high-profile bazaar drew robust participation from numerous friendly nations, though

European countries were notably absent. According to multiple diplomatic sources, concerns

related to security and logistics were among the primary factors that discouraged their

participation this year. Despite this, the colourful and culturally rich stalls of Morocco,

Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Türkiye, Sudan, Myanmar, and Malaysia

drew special and enthusiastic attention from a large number of visitors for their vibrant displays

and captivating cultural presentations.

In his formal remarks, Ishaq Dar highlighted that the participating stalls powerfully symbolize

enduring cooperation and mutual friendship with Pakistan. He added that PFOWA’s extensive

humanitarian efforts—including crucial assistance provided during recent devastating floods,

along with consistent support extended to the National Disaster Management Authority

(NDMA), the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, and key institutions like PIMS and Polyclinic

hospitals—reflect its deep-rooted, consistent, and profound commitment to public welfare.

Deputy Prime Minister Dar further emphasized PFOWA's significant and tangible contributions

in the vital fields of education, health, and social services. He stated unequivocally that the

Association continues to uphold a proud legacy of generosity, proactively extending its support

not only to families within the Foreign Service community but also to marginalized and

underprivileged communities nationwide. He stressed that our faith strongly emphasizes the

virtue of giving, and the commendable work of the Pakistan Foreign Office Women's

Association stands as a powerful testament to this guiding principle in tangible action.

Referring to his most recent, intensive international engagements, the Deputy Prime Minister

confirmed he had just returned from a highly busy diplomatic tour. This critical tour included the

SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting in Moscow and the significant EU Indo-Pacific

Ministerial Forum in Brussels. He noted specifically that the Brussels leg involved a highly

"successful" 7th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue and nearly two dozen crucial bilateral meetings,

collectively describing the Foreign Office’s recent diplomatic efforts as "extremely valuable" for

advancing the national interest and securing Pakistan’s strategic objectives on the global stage. (Sajid Ali Zaidi)