Words have an incredible impact on our daily life. With words, we have the power to speak encouragement or persecution over others. Here are a few iron ladies of Pakistan that have accomplished amazing feats and share their stupendous personal stories of persistence, success, failure and the events that changed their lives through thrilling words. You can draw your inspiration from these wonderful women.
1. Roshaneh Zafar
The founder of the renowned Kashf Foundation, Roshaneh has used her innovation and expertise to help millions of women in Pakistan. She is also a speaker at All American Speakers Bureau. She inspires women with the idea of providing them sustainable financial choices and bringing them to the world of capitalism.
Follow her on twitter.
2. Dr. Quratulain Bakhteari
The Founding Director of the Institute for Development Studies and Practices and the Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr. Quratulain is credited with the establishment of hundreds of government schools for girls in Balochistan and many other community works. She is truly an inspirational woman. Having born in a refugee camp and being married at an age of 21, she managed to overcome all her hardships and devoted herself to the betterment of community.
Find her on Facebook.
3. Shiza Shahid
A social Entrepreneur and Co-Founder & Director of Malala Fund, Shiza Shahid started volunteering for social causes at an early age because she felt that something in Pakistan was crumbling. There was raising poverty, gender imbalance and terrorism. Eventually, she got a scholarship at Stanford and began studying there. In her sophomore year she discovered Malala and returned back to Pakistan in the summer break and started a summer camp to host girls like Malala and to raise awareness about the Taliban’s attack on female education. Few years later, when Malala got shot by the terrorists, Shiza gave up her dream job in McKinsey & Company and started working in the Malala Fund.
Follow her on twitter.
4. Hina Jilani
A pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner, Hina aims to defend the rights of women, minorities and children. She is a human rights speaker and is awarded numerous awards. She is also affiliated with various international Human Rights Centers.
5. Khalida Brohi
A women’s rights activist and entrepreneur, Khalida Brohi is the founder and executive director of the Sughar Empowerment Society. It is a non-profit organization that provides women of tribal areas of Pakistan with the tools, skills, education and opportunities to enable them to take a leadership role in their households and their communities.
She is a speaker at TED.
6. Farida Shaheed
A sociologist and a human rights activist, Farida Shaheed is working as an executive director of Shirkat Gah-Women’s Resource Centre in Pakistan. She has been awarded several national and international awards on human rights. She aims to promote and protect cultural rights of demoted sectors which include: women, religious minorities and peasants.
7. Sidra Iqbal
A communication strategist and a youth development activist, Sidra Iqbal is an active journalist and founder of Status Pro Incorporate. She is the only Pakistani to win the prestigious English Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Championship in London, UK. The multitalented Sidra is an inspiring example for the young generation as she’s a public speaker, entrepreneur, PR practitioner and media anchorperson.
Find her on Facebook.
8. Fahmida Mirza
Fahmida Mirza is the first female National Assembly speaker in Pakistan. She is also considered as the first female speaker of the Islamic world. Before coming in politics, she was the Chief Executive of an advertisement company in Karachi. She is also a certified pediatric. Nowadays, she is an elected MNA and sits in the National Assembly in the opposition benches.
Follow her on twitter.
9. Fahmida Riaz
A renowned writer, poet, and a feminist, Fahmida Riaz is the founder of an Urdu publication by the name Awaz. Her voice is always considered as a prominent voice in the feminist struggle in Pakistan. Much of her published work is about deconstruction of male dominance and the criticism on feminist work.
10. Muniba Mazari
A courageous woman, full-time mother, much admired artist and a physically challenged activist, Muniba Mazari is running a brand by the name of Muniba’s Canvas and is a Federal Coordinator of National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD). Despite being a paraplegic, her work is all about hope, encouragement and bringing change. She is truly a symbol of strength and courage.
Find her on Facebook.
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