Tribute to Pakistani women  Part 1

Begum Salma Ahmed

– for being one of the first women to emerge as a successful businesswoman who paved the way for many women entrepreneurs; and for being the only woman ship breaker in the country

Prof Tahira Qazi

– for standing up to Talibans who attacked her school in the most brutal incident in Pakistani hisrory; she braved the attackers and refused to leave saying she won’t let them kill her school children. She chose to embrace martyrdom and saved as many children as she could. The nation saluted her courage and she emerged as an icon of bravery.

Faryal Gohar

– for being a leading human rights activist and a feminist writer who earned accolades nationally and internationally

Fatima Jinnah

– for being an iconic female politician who led the women during the Pakistan movement; for dedicating her life to serving women and for standing up against a military ruler in Presidential elections that she fought with dignity and grace.

Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan

– for being one of the earliest women politician and social worker in Pakistan; for being the first female Governor of a province and Chancellor of a University; for founding APWA, oldest and leading organization for welfare of women in the country.

Fatima Suraiya Bajiya

– for being one of the most prolific playwrights in Pakistan who played a key role in popularizing television dramas across Pakistan. Bajiya’s plays always portrayed strong family values and bond based on mutual respect, love and affection. She earned several awards locally and internationally and also served as Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister.

Dr. Ruth Pfao

– for dedicating her life to fighting Leprosy in Pakistan and being instrumental in containing the disease in the country

Shahtaj Qizilbash

For her meritorious services as a women’s rights activist. Shahtaj is a founding member of Women’s Action Forum and Convener of Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights. She is also looking after a women’s shelter home named Dastak.She is running a large paralegal network in the lower-income residential areas of Lahore. She is on the board of a number of civil society organisations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Jennifer Musa

– for dedicating her life to serving the downtrodden and underprivileged in Balochistan that earned her the title Queen of Balochistan. She was married to Qazi Musa, elder brother of Qazi Isa. After her husband’s death, she chose to stay on in Pakistan and serve the Baloch people which she did till she breathed her last.

Roshaneh Zafar

– for establishing the best micro-loaning system for women, that has literally improved living standards of these women

Beena Sarwar

– for her vigorous contributions in journalism, activism and Pak-India dosti

Tahira Abdullah

– for boldly facing tyranny and bigotry and fighting for women’s rights

Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari

– for her tremendous community services in the areas of health care, education and social activism specially in Balochistan where she established thousands of schools for girls

Dr. Sarwar Jehan Zuberi

– for her outstanding contribution to medical services and medical research during her career spanning over four decades during which she edited Pakistan’s first locally and internationally recognized medical journal JPMA for 30 years and also served as Scientist Emeritus and Director Pakistan Medical Research Council; for being recognized internationally for her work on Hepatitis.

Rabia Zuberi

– for devoting her life to art education through her Karachi School of Art that she founded in 1964 and is running it since as Principal. Rabia Zuberi is one of the pioneering woman sculptors in Pakistan and the recipient of numerous national awards, has dedicated her life to art and art education in Pakistan. Her school which completed its 50 years in 2014 has produced numerous well known artists who made a mark in the field of art.

Razia Bhatti

– for being a courageous journalist who earned laurels internationally for her accomplishments in journalism

Zakia Sarwar

– for her services to teaching of English and establishing Society for Pakistan English Language Teachers that shes been running for over three decades

Zehra Nigah

– for creating waves as a poet at a young age and continuing to be an iconic poet who writes on social subjects and issues that affect women

Zubaida Agha

– for her pioneering work in art and for being one of the earliest women artists in Pakistan

Maj. Gen. (Retd) Shahida Malik

– for being the first woman to rise to the rank of a General in Pakistani army. d. Trained as an army medic and a field combat officer, her army career well served in the Indo-Pakistani wars and is also a recipient of highest military decoration as well as the most-decorated female general officer. She took an honorary retirement in 2004 and retired as the inspector-general and deputy commander of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps.