OICCI marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a thought-provoking session aligned with this year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” bringing together leaders and experts to discuss women’s legal rights, institutional accountability, and the steps organizations must take to create safer and more equitable workplaces on March 10, 2026.

The event was moderated by the emcee Aleeza Fatima, Research Associate, OICCI. The event began with an online message from Syed Ali Akbar, Vice President OICCI, Managing Director & CEO Pakistan Tobacco Comapny Ltd & Chair OICCI D&I Subcommittee, who highlighted the importance of sustained corporate commitment towards advancing gender equality and strengthening workplace protections. The message was followed by an interactive quiz hosted by Rabia Khattak, Head of Sustainability & Diversity, Jazz.

Subsequently, a panel discussion ensued, moderated by Anam Fatima Khan, Group General Counsel, House of Habib and featured insights from Dr. Fauzia Viqar Honorable Federal Ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women; Haya Zahid, CEO, Legal Aid Society - Pakistan; Yasir Khwaja, Country head of HR, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan; and Rabia Khattak.

The panel explored the legal and institutional frameworks that support women’s rights in Pakistan, and the role organizations can play in strengthening these protections. Dr. Fauzia spoke about legal mechanisms and support systems addressing cases such as domestic violence, while Haya shared real-life examples of how the Legal Aid Society has supported individuals through legal recourse. Yasir highlighted initiatives undertaken by Standard Chartered Bank to promote diversity and inclusion, including workplace policies and support systems such as daycare facilities. Rabia Khattak shared how Jazz has approached workplace inclusion through cross-department collaboration, ensuring that policies related to women’s empowerment are supported by both HR and compliance frameworks. This was then followed by an Q&A session with attendees.

The event also featured special remarks by Farheen Salman Amir, CEO, Ismail Industries Limited; Ex-OICCI MC Member and Ex-Chair, OICCI Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee, who reflected on the importance of collective action in advancing women’s rights and opportunities across the corporate sector.

The session concluded with closing remarks by M Abdul Aleem, CE/SG OICCI, who reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to promoting dialogue, strengthening institutional mechanisms, and encouraging corporate leadership to take meaningful action towards inclusive and equitable workplaces.