SUKKUR: The Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University (BNBWU), Sukkur—one of the premier public-sector women’s universities in Sindh—successfully hosted the International Conference on Women in Policy Development (ICWPD-2026).

Under the overarching theme “Empowering Youth & Advancing Gender Equity in Economic Policy,” the high-profile academic event brought together a distinguished lineup of national and international scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. The platform was designed to foster rich intellectual exchange, advance policy-driven research, and outline inclusive solutions to bridge global gender gaps.

Keynote Address: Bridging the Policy-Gender Gap

Dr. Fareeha Armughan, Head of the Centre of Evidence Action Research (CEAR) and the Centre of Adaptive Social Protection & Economic Empowerment (CASPEE) at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), was invited as the conference’s Keynote Speaker.

In her keynote address on Gender Equality, Equity, and Inclusive Policy Frameworks, Dr. Armughan strongly emphasized the critical role of evidence-based and inclusive decision-making. She outlined how structured, data-driven policies are vital to accelerating women’s socio-economic empowerment and ensuring that youth are actively integrated into national economic planning.

Global and National Scholars Unify for Dialogue

The conference facilitated crucial thematic panels and dialogues, showcasing insights from an esteemed panel of international and local experts:

International Contributors:

• Malaysia: Prof. Dr. Abu Bakar A. Hamid, Dr. Mohd Abd Wahab Fatoni Bin Mohd Balwi
• Japan: Dr. Masakatsu Komori, Prof. Yuu Kimura, Dr. Takuya Numajiri, Mr. Tjipto William
• Turkey: Prof. Dr. Çetin Bektaş
• China: Dr. Yao Lili
• Kosovo: Dr. Enkeleda Lulaj
• Uzbekistan: Ms. Djamalova Asal Sayduvalievna

National Experts:

Prominent Pakistani academicians including Prof. Dr. Musarrat Shamshir, Prof. Dr. Manzoor Ali Mirani, Prof. Dr. Abdul Kabeer Kazi, and Prof. Dr. Zaki Rashidi shared valuable local perspectives on policy innovations, women’s institutional leadership, and equitable national development.

Driving Change and Academic Synergy

The successful execution of ICWPD-2026 highlights BNBWU’s growing footprint as an influential hub for gender-centric research and policy advocacy in Sindh.

Academic observers and conference participants extended their warmest congratulations to BNBWU, a vital knowledge partner of SDPI, for organizing a highly impactful platform that successfully bridges the gap between grassroots research and high-level policy reforms.