Islamabad, February 12-13, 2025 – The Virtual University of Pakistan successfully organized a Two-Day National Conference on Shifting Paradigms: Uniting for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality at Islamabad. The conference served as a platform for scholars, professionals, and students to engage in meaningful discussions on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The event commenced with opening remarks from the Registrar of Virtual University of Pakistan and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Faisal Tehseen Shah. Their addresses emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive and equitable society through education and research.

A series of thought-provoking activities enriched the two-day conference, including research paper presentations and competitions, short video and poster presentations, and a panel discussion. Keynote speeches were delivered by distinguished speakers, including Mr. Irfan Mufti (Deputy Executive Director, South Asia Partnership), Dr. Aisha Anees Malik (Associate Professor, Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies), Prof. Dr. Arshi Saleem Hashmi (Dean, Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University), and Dr. Shafqat Munir Ahmad (Deputy Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute). Their insights contributed to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in advancing gender equality.

A notable highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled From Awareness to Action: Empowering Women in the Digital Age. Moderated by Dr. Sonia Omer, Director of the Sughra Begum Centre for Education Policy and Development, the session featured insightful contributions from Syeda Viquar-un-Nisa Hashmi, Mr. Irfan Mufti (Deputy Executive Director, South Asia Partnership Pakistan), Dr. Raja Ali Saleem (Consultant, Asian Development Bank), Ms. Afshan Tehseen Bajwa (CEO, Human Capital Pakistan), and Dr. Rabbia Aslam (Gender Studies, Center for Excellence, QAU). The discussion highlighted key challenges, policy recommendations, and actionable steps to empower women in the digital era, fostering meaningful dialogue and inspiring change.

The conference also featured a gala dinner for guests, faculty, and students, celebrating Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage through folk music and traditional dance performances. The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where awards were presented to the winners of the best research papers, posters, and short videos.

The closing remarks by Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti and Dr. Faisal Tehseen Shah underscored the significance of continued dialogue and action in promoting gender equality. The Virtual University of Pakistan remains committed to fostering academic discourse and initiatives that drive positive social change.