In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 8th March as UN Day for women, which is now observed as ‘International Women’s Day’ around the world to celebrate the socioeconomic, cultural, political, and other diverse achievements of women. In our effort to pay homage to all the women in Pakistan on Women’s Day, we have listed the accomplishments of some Pakistani female pioneers who have, in recent years, scaled great heights to make us proud as a nation.
Keep scrolling to find out the names of Pakistani women who did not bother to change the rules, but changed the game itself!
Women’s Day in Pakistan – A Tribute to the Women Making a Difference
As a part of paying tribute to the amazing women of Pakistan, here’s a round-up of all the names that have reshaped the world’s perspective and wrecked the stereotypes, largely due to their commitment, determination, dedication, and sheer will:
- Arfa Karim
- Dr. Shamshad Akhtar
- Jalila Haider
- Mahira Khan
- Malala Yousafzai
- Marium Mukhtiar
- Nargis Latif
- Sabina Khatri
- Salma Alam
- Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
- Yasmeen Lari
Arfa Karim
Seeing Arfa Karim at the top of our list of amazing Pakistani women shouldn’t come as a surprise. The youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), although, is no longer with us, her achievements are eternal and will forever make Pakistan proud.
Arfa, popularly known as Pakistan’s “IT genius,” was just nine years old when she surprised the whole world with her extraordinary talent and represented Pakistan on global science and technology forums. In the year 2004, she became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional. The late computer prodigy is also the youngest girl who received the President’s Award for Pride of Performance.
Arfa suffered a cardiac arrest after an epileptic seizure on Jan 14. 2012. Due to ensuing brain damage, she left us too soon at the age of 16. Even after her untimely demise, she continues to inspire Pakistanis.
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar
Image Credits: Facebook/ Shamshad Akhtar
For Pakistanis, especially the people who work in the financial industry or are associated with it in some way, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar needs no introduction. She was the first woman to become the Governor of State Bank of Pakistan and has the honour of representing Pakistan on various international platforms. She has worn executive hats in several multinational companies and has shown the world that she is unstoppable. Some roles taken on by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar include serving as the caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan, Vice President of the World Bank, and Special Senior Advisor of the President of Asian Development Bank.
Currently, she is serving as an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the tenth Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Jalila Haider
Image Credits: Facebook/ Jalila Haider
Hailed as the iron lady of Pakistan and the founder of ‘We, the Humans’, Jalila Haider is truly a star that shines brightly, leaving the onlookers in complete awe. She has redefined the status of women in Pakistan.
Jalila, one of the most recent Pakistani women to make headlines globally, she is a lawyer and humanitarian who helps women and children. She was recently awarded the International Women of Courage Award for her endless contribution towards making this world a better place to live and for her untiring efforts.
The US State Department defines Jalila as, “The first female attorney of her Hazara community, Haider led a peaceful hunger strike to recognise the right to life for the Hazara following a series of targeted attacks. Ms. Haider has taken up the cause of many other vulnerable communities. As Balochistan’s President of the Women Democratic Front and Balochistan’s branch of the Aurat (Woman’s) March, she fought against violence against women in public spaces, at work, and home.”
Mahira Khan
Mahira Khan – one of the most famous female celebrities in Pakistan – is not unknown in any sense. The actress debuted in a famous TV serial as Khirad. She rules the hearts of millions, courtesy of her captivating acting chops, and regularly graces the covers of various publications since she’s the National Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, a UN Refugee Agency.
Malala Yousafzai
Life in Pakistan for a woman can be challenging, but Malala Yousafzai beat all the odds, including an attempt on her life, and showed the world that nothing can stop you if you are determined. This famous Pakistani woman is currently the most well-known girl in the world. Malala was initially noticed for the piece she wrote on BBC under the alias ‘Gul Makai’.
Malala is one of the only two Pakistani people who have bagged the Nobel Peace Prize. She currently lives in the UK and is serving as a social activist for female education in Pakistan under the Malala Fund – a non-profit organisation.
Marium Mukhtiar
Image Credits: Facebook/ Marium Mukhtiar
Everyone knows and remembers Marium Mukhtiar – the first female martyr of Pakistan’s Air Force. And for those who don’t, Pakistan’s latest hit ‘Ek Thi Marium’ made everyone realise that she is the woman who surprised the nation by becoming a symbol of courage, resolution, and character. Flying Officer Marium Muktiar – the youngest Pakistani female fighter pilot – lost her life to an aircraft crash near Kundian in Mianwali District, Punjab. Not to mention, she also wears the honour of becoming the first combat Pakistani female pilot to die on duty, and with valour, might we add.
Besides being the perfect model for courage, Marium was also a philanthropist who used to donate to a children’s school. She was awarded the military award ‘Tamgha-e-Basalat’ by the Government of Pakistan for her many contributions to Pakistan’s Air Force.
Nargis Latif
Nargis Latif – a lady turning garbage into livable spaces – has proved to Pakistan that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. She is the founder of Gul Bahao, a social enterprise that upcycles waste to create affordable houses, water reservoirs, feed for livestock, and instant compost. The organisation is based in Karachi and works on a simple yet modern method for managing waste.
Sabina Khatri
Image Credits: Facebook/ Tell Her Story
Often deemed as Lyari’s Maa, Sabina Khatri is the driving force behind the famous drive ‘Lyari say Yaari’ and a non-profit organisation ‘Kiran Foundation’. Sabina is running a unique chain of educational institutions under the umbrella of this foundation. The schools focus on the holistic development of a child. This famous Pakistani woman aims to make parents and caretakers realise that school is a place where a child should be surrounded with compassion and empathy. Sabina has received many awards for her relentless work, but one of the worth mentioning here is the I Am Karachi’s Pride Award in 2016.
Salma Alam
Image Credits: Facebook/Durbeen
Salma Alam is the mastermind behind Durbeen – a leading Pakistani organisation that works for the higher education of women. Although she has been working in the education sector for a very long time, her contributions for the sector have further increased over the past decade. As of now, Salma is also working as a consultant with the World Bank to redefine the education system in Pakistan.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
Sharmeen made us all proud by bringing the first Oscar to Pakistan and repeated the achievement for good measure. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a journalist, activist, and filmmaker. Besides, Sharmeen is among the only 11 female directors around the world to have won Oscars for a documentary based on real events. She is also known for teaching the world about the rights of Pakistani women.
If we are listing her international achievements, we cannot miss out on the time when Sharmeen bagged two Emmy Awards for Pakistan. She’s also among Time’s Magazine’s 100 most influential people. Seeing her determination and talents, the Government of Pakistan also awarded her the coveted ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’.
Yasmeen Lari
Image Credits: Arch Net
With several years of experience behind her, Yasmeen Lari is no stranger to Pakistan’s architecture and real estate industry. The first female architect of Pakistan, Yasmeen Lari is best known for her contribution towards both the social justice and construction industry.
Angoori Bagh Housing, Taj Mahal Hotel, the Finance and Trade Centre, and the Pakistan State Oil House are the brainchilds of Yasmeen Lari. Even after her retirement in 2000, Lari stayed connected to the construction industry and has designed over 36,000 houses for the people affected by natural catastrophes. In 2016, she received the Fukuoka Prize in recognition of her involvement in socialism.
Our list is in no way complete, and some readers might even feel the need to point out some names that we should have mentioned. Those who have been left out due to space boundaries are just as worthy of our praise and admiration. And, we believe that all and every woman in the world, especially Pakistani women, deserve more than just a day to be recognised for their immeasurable contributions towards making the world worth living.
This brings us to the end of our post on famous Pakistani women. Tell us how you plan to celebrate the day in Pakistan by writing to us at blog@zameen.com. For more informative posts, subscribe to Zameen Blog.
