10 April 2025, Islamabad - As global efforts to counter the financing of terrorism (CFT) evolve, the inclusion and empowerment of women has become a strategic imperative. Recognising the vital role women play in CFT, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), with financial support from the Embassy of Denmark, organised the second national conference titled “Empowering Women in Countering the Financing of Terrorism” on 10 April 2025 in Karachi.
The conference paves a key pathway towards Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to mainstream gender in CFT initiatives. It brought together over 150 participants, including senior officials, mostly women from regulatory bodies, financial institutions, law enforcement, and development partners, to promote inclusive dialogue and strengthen networks of professional women in CFT.
The opening session featured remarks by Ms. Lubna Farooq Malik, Director General of the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU); H.E. Mr. Jakob Linulf, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan; Mr. Troels Vester, Country Representative UNODC Pakistan; and Ms. Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The speakers collectively emphasized the importance of embedding gender-responsive approaches within the national architecture to counter terrorist financing.
Mr. Troels Vester highlighted that women must not only be participants but also leaders, shaping policies and priorities in counter-terror efforts. He mentioned that terrorist networks often exploit women, either as victims or unwilling facilitators, making gender-specific insights critical to prevention strategies.
H.E. Mr. Jakob Linulf reaffirmed Denmark’s long-standing support for gender equality in global security and financial governance. He described women as “protectors of financial integrity” and stressed that empowering women is not just a matter of fairness, but much needed strategic imperative. Highlighting the tangible progress made since the last conference, he called for sustaining and expanding the momentum to ensure more women join and are empowered at every level of CFT response.
Following the opening, two technical presentations were delivered by national experts Ms. Sumera Baloch and Ms. Shehla Qureshi, who addressed how women are often exploited in terrorist financing, using social pressures as a power game. The experts stressed the urgent need for institutional reforms, gender-specific safeguards, and increased awareness within regulatory and law enforcement bodies.
A high-level panel discussion titled “Towards Equality and Empowerment: Empowering Women Officials and Advancing Gender Perspectives in CFT” featured Ms. Khalida Habib, Executive Director at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP); Ms. Zahara Mavani, Director at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP); and Ms. Moneeza Butt, Partner at KPMG Pakistan. The panelists shared practical insights on integrating gender perspectives into national risk assessments, institutional policies, and compliance frameworks. They also underscored the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and mentorship in elevating women’s leadership within the CFT domain.
Next Steps:
The conference served as a springboard to further strengthen and expand the national agenda on gender inclusion in CFT. The following strategic next steps were identified:
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to empowering women in CFT roles and pledged continued support to advance gender-responsive approaches within Pakistan’s financial oversight and enforcement ecosystem.
The women's conference marked a key milestone of the project ‘Strengthening Pakistan’s response to effectively prevent the spread of violent extremism virtually and amongst youth in vulnerable communities (SPRE).’ The project aimed at improving the rule of law in Pakistan and bolstering regional stability. Financially supported by Denmark, the project is executed by UNODC with NACTA and allied national and provincial stakeholders.
