Pakistan has many immensely talented women working both at home and abroad to make the country and the world a better place. We have compiled a list of some of the most inspiring women in Pakistan.
1. Roshaneh Zafar
Roshaneh Zafar (@RoshanehZafar) is an active social entrepreneur with an impressive list of credentials. She was an Ashoka Fellow and worked extensively at the World Bank on Water and Sanitation issues. After meeting with Muhammad Yunas and seeing the impact of Grameen banking, she started the Kashf Foundation in Pakistan in 1996, and is the Managing Director of the Foundation. She also started Kashf Microfinance Bank Limited.
“Believing that the Grameen model could help empower women both economically and socially, Roshaneh ignored warnings that a microfinance program focusing on women would not work in Pakistan.” The initiative has since then proven to be a success, and Kashf Foundation provides microfinance, job opportunities and training for women and supports over 500,000 women and families in Pakistan. Roshaneh Zafar has received several awards including Skoll Award for Entrepreneurship, Tamghai Imtiaz and Vital Voices Economic Empowerment Award, among others.
2. Jehan Ara
Jehan Ara (@jehan_ara) is the President of Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITES (P@SHA). Se has a considerable amount of experience in communications, media and marketing in several countries around the world, and has put this knowledge to use in transforming P@SHA into a center for industry innovation and growth. She is sought after for events and talks, and regularly supports tech innovation forums.
An optimist, she is passionate about product and service development, new ideas and empowering youth and women in Pakistan. She has helped kick start several initiatives including the Pakistan branch of Women on the Web, Take Back the Tech, and Women’s Virtual Network, all of which aim to have some impact on improving women’s social situations and supporting their entrepreneurial
3. Kalsoom Lakhani
Kalsoom Lakhani (@kalsoom82) founded Invest2Innovate, also known as i2i, in 2011. Invest2Innovate connects budding entrepreneurs with investors and support, in line with their belief that “entrepreneurs have the power to change the world.” They have an i2i accelerator, which provides support to startups and matches them with i2i Angels, their investors.
Kalsoom Lakhani is active in a number of forums: as a founder and Editor of CHUP blog, co-ambassador of Sandbox, co-chair for Blended Profit, and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. She worked as Director of Social Vision before she founded i2i, and has considerable experience in building support and networks for startups and young entrepreneurs in Pakistan.
4. Ghulam Sughra Solangi
Sughra Solangi overcame significant odds and a difficult situation to become “an exceptional example of what an oppressed woman can achieve through sheer determination and strength.” Married off at 12 and divorced at 18, she struggled to educate herself at home and despite social and cultural obstacles, went on to get her High School Certificate. She became a teacher and realised that people were not sending their daughters to school for two reasons: lack of funds and social customs. Following her belief that changing attitudes is as important as economic development, she began Marvi Rural Development Foundation.
The Foundation has projects that support literacy, health and well-being, development of community organisations, income generation and ending violence against women. She has had significant success in developing her village Solangi, Khairpur District, and developing new villages every year in Sindh. She became an Ashoka Fellow in 1999, and for her achievements she received the International Women of Courage Award in 2011.
5. Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai became known worldwide after being targeted and subsequently shot by the Taliban in Pakistan in 2012. Already a vocal campaigner for education in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai is now one of the most prominent advocates for education in the world today.
She wrote anonymously for a blog detailing her life and education under the Taliban in Swat for the BBC for years before being targeted and having to leave Swat and Pakistan. More recently, she addressed the UN on her 16th birthday, and launched the Malala Fund, which supports education for girls around the world.
6. Maria Umar
Maria Umar (@MariaUmar) is the founder of Women’s Digital League (WDL), which is an online portal that provides digital services. WDL aims to tap into what it calls “a vast dormant workforce which is either discouraged from working outside or has trouble finding work opportunities.” Maria Umar was inspired by the possibilities inherent in such a service, after she had to work from home following maternity leave, and was using oDesk.
WDL is different from oDESK and other sites because it focuses on women, who for various reasons are unable to work outside their homes, and also women in rural areas who lack the required equipment and training to work online. WDL provides these services, and enables women to work online on “data entry and data conversion tasks” and “tasks like wordpress, writing, graphic designing” for various clients.
7. Saba Gul
Saba Gul (@sabagl) is the founder of popinjay, which was previously known as BLISS. Popinjay is a non-profit organisation that works with artisans in Pakistan to produce handmade and high quality handbags. It focuses on empowering these artisans, especially women, as the website states that they “offer our artisan women practical training, fantastic wages, dignity and a path to self-sufficiency. By connecting them to global markets, we bring them a fair value for their work.”
Saba Gul is a graduate of MIT and a self-proclaimed “engineer-at-heart” with a talent for social entrepreneurship and finding solutions to enduring poverty through empowerment.
8. Sabeen Mahmud
Sabeen Mahmud (@sabeen) is the President of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE ) in Karachi. She started PeaceNiche and one of its very first projects, T2F, which is also known as The Second Floor Café. T2F is a space for people to come together to partake in events and discussions revolving around activism, innovation, arts and culture.
She stated in an interview: “It is my biggest dream to change the world for better through internet, design and other communication technologies & T2F is a part of that dream.” PeaceNiche has several projects under its belt, and T2F is just one of them, which aims to find peaceful solutions to social problems through dialogue and debate and inspiring events.
9. Rabia Garib
Rabia Garib (@rabiagarib) has a passion for education and tech innovation. She used to run CIO Pakistan and was a co-founder at Rasala Publications, but is now focusing on being the Chief Wrapper at ToffeeTV, which she founded with @taleazafar. She is also an Eisenhower Fellow and a recipient of the LadiesFund Trailblazer Award.
ToffeeTV focuses on providing children with learning and entertainment in Urdu. Furthering education is a particular interest of hers, as is the medium of music for promoting it. Rabia Garib has promoted the local IT industry and the way it helps to shape Pakistan’s global image and often explains the following: “The future of any country is its children (who then become the youth) and the preservation of its language, culture and heritage. If you aren’t already focusing on localized content development for education, your future will be shaped by others.”
10. Sheba Najmi
Sheba Najmi (@snajmi) is the founder of Code for Pakistan, a “non-profit building a non-partisan civic innovation ecosystem to improve quality of life across Pakistan.” Describing her project, she explained: “I want to put forth this idea of Gov 2.0 which has caught on all over the world; which is to use apps and data to reframe the relationship between local government and citizens.”
She has extensive experience in design management, product strategy, product management, developing entrepreneurship and startups, and civic engagement. Starting out as a TV anchor and reporter, she previously worked as a Fellow at Code for America and at Yahoo. She also works as a Growth Hacker at Tradecraft, a Consultant at the World Bank, User Experience Design Consultant at Cloudwords, Inc. and is on the Board of Advisors of Go-Fig Solutions.
11. Sophia Hasnain
Sophia Hasnain has considerable experience in telecommunications and innovative Internet technology. She is currently working as a Trends and Transformations Consultant and has previously worked for Telenor in Pakistan, and Deutsche Telekom AG. She also launched Pakistan’s “first real-time online Lottery in Pakistan with 5000 retail terminals.”
Her focus in consulting is on innovative products, and she helps companies to “take a leap, start innovating, become leaders of their markets, bring their products back into focus; manage the product, manage the customer experience, manage the growth and grow the revenues.”
12. Fawzia Salahuddin
Fawzia Salahuddin works at Alchemy Technologies as the Director of Technology and Project Management. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she has proven leadership skills and extensive experience in managing both people and products.
She specialises in various aspects of team management including client management, and establishing goals. She has previously worked for several software companies and also does voluntary work where she mentors managers and budding leaders.
13. Erum Khalid
Erum Khalid has worked as the Director of Technology at Alchemy Technologies and as a Project Manager at Folio3. She has worked extensively on software development, software engineering and design, and project management.
She is a graduate of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, where she has also worked as a visiting faculty member.
14. Maliha Khan
Maliha Khan works at Folio3 as the Director of Engineering for Social Media and Consumer Web Applications. She has over a decade of experience in developing web and mobile applications, where she has managed, designed and marketed them.
She completed her degree at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, and has worked at various organisations including PixSense Inc., and Clickmarks (Pvt) Ltd. Maliha Khan took part in an MIT Summer Research Program and has been behind the development of several innovative apps such as Your Place, Fashion Playtes, and Brilliant Earth.
15. Fariha Akhtar
Fariha Akhtar (@farihaak) is a software engineer, and is well known as an avid blogger and activist. She writes regularly about issues relating to Internet and digital privacy, growth in the tech sector and app development. She is also known for her live blogging.
She has been a part of TakeBackTheTech, a campaign to use technology to end violence and abuse towards women. A self-described humanist, and deeply interested in issues of women’s rights and online activism, she “came up with lots of ideas for creating awareness about privacy and security online,” along with providing information and advice about Internet privacy and protection.
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shuaib
24/04/2014 at 12:58 pm
i m frm india n found it very heartening to know abt these talented n powerful women frm Pakistan they should develop a think tank of Muslim women in subcontinent which could be a gr8 way forward 4 Muslim women of the world
Anonymous
26/04/2020 at 6:32 pm
A woman in great India realizes it, sadly none of us thought about it because we do not know
what is the importance of being united. Women must understand how powerful they are…
Stand up and raise your voice against the corrupt elite of Pakistan…
Mir Deshi
24/04/2014 at 4:59 pm
Where is name of Benazir Bhutto?
Totally biased list.
Nida Rasheed
24/04/2014 at 5:29 pm
Well, she’s not currently alive, so that’s one reason she’s missing. We were also biased towards women involved in promoting entrepreneurship.
sajjad haider
25/04/2014 at 5:29 am
Nice compilation. Though not sure about the last few really being linked to entrepreneurship. theres plenty of other females out there, in similar lists.
Ch. K.A. Nye
25/04/2014 at 9:15 am
And what did BB do for women? What did she do for the country? Nothing… absolutely nothing… let’s get real….
Malik Yar
28/04/2014 at 3:31 am
There is no role of Baynazir for women development or Country’s development. She and her husband looted the Country’s wealth and transfered billion dollars of poor nation in forein Countries.
Yasir Fayyaz
24/04/2014 at 10:56 pm
I personally don’t agree with the List. Because How can Dr. Yasmeen Rashid name is not on the List.
Just read her profile. he won more award then all of them combined. One of the most talented doctor scientist of Pakistan. She have initiated more initiatives than all of the above combine. Seriously Think about it.
http://www.profilepk.com/Dr.-Yasmin-Rashid_316.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasmin_Rashid
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Yasmin-Rashid/258454854218884
Nida Rasheed
25/04/2014 at 10:42 am
We were also biased towards women involved in promoting entrepreneurship.
Ayazjunejo
24/11/2019 at 10:08 am
Great thinking
میاں نعیم اقبال
25/04/2014 at 2:31 am
زندگی کے مختلف شعبوں نمایاں خدمات سرانجام دینے والی یہ پاکستانی خواتین یقینا خراج تحسین کے قابل ہیں جو ملکی تعمیر وترقی میں اپنا کردار ادا کررہی ہیں اور ان خواتین نے یہ ثابت کیا ہے کہ خواتین بهی مردوںسے کم نہیں ہیں
Saba
25/04/2014 at 3:43 am
Yay!! This list is awesome! So inspired and glad to see that the world also sees what I see in friends! So special! Very honored to call two of u my ‘friends’!!
toosy
25/04/2014 at 12:57 pm
Good job done but Ur list doesn’t include the name of ms anjum shamim ahmed, principal n ceo Lahore Preschool – Learning Alliance. Shes an educationist n a highly inspirational woman who has build up this school in the past 18 years. I believe such examples are really less
Rabail
25/04/2014 at 1:33 pm
Why is the name of Saira Sarfraz missing from this list. And Saba Abbasi and Hunza Basharat. All these women also work hard. And top of them … why is the name of Sanam Riaz missing from this list. She works even harder than Maliha Khan
Faisal Abidi
25/04/2014 at 9:04 pm
:)
You cant see me
25/04/2014 at 1:44 pm
I totally agree with you Rabail.
This is a biased all the ladies you have mentioned should have to be in that list. We should launch a protest for that for sure :@
Nida Rasheed
25/04/2014 at 2:04 pm
Why don’t you guys leave us names + Twitter profiles/Facebook links or LinkedIn links for people you think should be added and we’ll look into a follow-up post. Regardless, we still think we profiled some great women entrepreneurs/thought leaders, and I’m sure everyone agrees that they all deserve to be highlighted. If we missed someone, it’s only because we have not heard of them :) so you guys have a fair chance to change that now.
local
25/04/2014 at 2:04 pm
@Rabail, as they say, “don’t jealous” :p
local2
25/04/2014 at 2:37 pm
Author mentioned all the 15 working ladies that she knows. Send her your FB profiles, LinkedIn profiles so that she may know more and add your names. Act fast if you want to be included in 2015’s 100 most inspiring women in Pakistan!
local
25/04/2014 at 3:14 pm
haha. bohot aalaa!
Nida Rasheed
26/04/2014 at 11:44 am
No, the author (not me), asked some of the more prominent women in the entrepreneurship circles to recommend others, and then made a list that was shortened by the blog owner. But sure, recommend people. There’s no harm in highlighting people doing good work :)
Naila
25/04/2014 at 4:06 pm
Great list!
Glad to see Maliha Khan here!
Congrats Maliha! you truly deserve it :)
Just don’t agree with Malala’s selection.
Dukhi Attma
25/04/2014 at 4:30 pm
@Rabail, Yep you are absolutely right, i think they should also consider Abdullah bin laique also in the list.
PAKI
03/05/2014 at 4:27 pm
Remove MALALA add ARFA KARIM
Muhammad Asif Kareemi (FB ID)
10/05/2014 at 6:34 am
We salute all our muslim sisters who hv performed in any field of life while obeying n being in limits of islam , following the teachings of islam . jazak allah
Rubab Tareen
19/05/2014 at 8:00 pm
It is really good to see that Pakistan has such talented women here in. But, I’ll disagree about Malala. You cannot compare her with other 14 ladies who are really doing great job. Anyways, everyone has her own point of view. So, I must say please put out Malala from this list.
Thanks
Aaamir
06/06/2014 at 8:08 am
Good report. But please remove 2 women, Malala and Maria Umer. Malala is an upciming flood into Pakistan’s Politics which we have to suffer for next 50 years, Maria Umer’s portal is nothing but only website made for a few cents onbly. Please dont call it a portal. I dont know why there is a hype for Maria.
Rest of the women are just great. Thanks
Chandlier Bukhari
24/06/2015 at 4:53 pm
I agree with you
Don deather
23/06/2014 at 10:54 am
Where is dr afia siddique yr.
Alpha1
15/02/2015 at 12:16 am
the terrorist?
Bravo !
04/04/2015 at 11:30 pm
Did she put Bomb in ur Ass ? that u r calling her a Terrorist.
Beena Naeem
23/06/2014 at 5:44 pm
The name of Arifa Kareem is also not mentioned here.
Moiz Omar
25/07/2014 at 12:16 pm
Yeah, she should have been mentioned.
Beena Naeem
23/06/2014 at 5:47 pm
Donot agree with Malala yousuf
Moiz Omar
25/07/2014 at 12:15 pm
Why?
Nabeel Saleem
19/02/2015 at 1:06 am
No more malala…
next agent for pakistan..
dislike this post……….
Moiz Omar
25/07/2014 at 12:13 pm
Another inspiring Pakistani woman is Tasneem Zehra Husain. She has a PhD in theoretical physics from Stockholm University in Sweden. She is also an assistant professor of physics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and has spoken at many schools and institutions on her field. A great inspiration for Pakistani women.
Mian Zahid Riaz
16/08/2014 at 7:20 am
why Parween Rahman Director Orangi pilot project is not here?
Khara sach
08/09/2014 at 10:48 am
And where is the “great” “Mehwish abdul sattar”
;) ;)
Dabang Chohan Rajpot
10/04/2015 at 3:12 pm
i want to take there interviews.i am from media
Dabang Chohan Rajpot
10/04/2015 at 3:12 pm
may i take there contact numbers plz
jabeen
03/05/2015 at 2:28 am
good! I a big bulk of young women is coming up to take the lead in various fields and and make the difference.
Bilal Ilyas
25/05/2015 at 1:48 pm
Malala is in no way an inspiration to the people of Pakistan. There is no way in which she is benefiting the people of Pakistan. Look at all the other female inspirations, they have contributed to the society but what has Malala contributed to the society of Pakistan.
ik
04/07/2015 at 1:57 pm
IT DOESNT MATTER U HATE HER SHE WAS WHAT SHE WAS! SHE IS WHAT SHE IS! AND SHE WILL BE WHAT SHE WOULD!
Farah
04/07/2015 at 2:12 pm
Please take that Malala out she is ruining Pakistan’s & Islam’s name ……. My enthusiasm was high when I opened this post but as soon as I saw this woman I hated everything
Emaan Butt
04/07/2015 at 10:46 pm
where is the name of dr.arifa ???? the most inspiring personality ………
Harris Najeeb Dar
10/07/2015 at 12:19 am
Malala seriously.?.? What she has done other than defaming Pakistan.?
Haris Yaseen
16/07/2015 at 10:52 pm
you are correct. she is fake..totally fake..Arfa Karim and samina baig are the best inspiration
Muniqui Rodrigues
26/10/2015 at 6:09 am
I like Malala, girl fights for the right to study. an example of struggle!
Hadees Fatima
09/03/2016 at 12:56 am
fighters for studies are apsacs kids not malala
Zia Khan
16/07/2015 at 4:36 am
Malala yousufzai Quite a inspiring youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate! PRIDE FOR PAKISTAN
Haris Yaseen
16/07/2015 at 10:49 pm
what about samina baig
Hassan Mujtaba
13/11/2015 at 1:46 am
The website looks like a Pakistani Website and not showing one among the aw-inspiring lady, who lived and died for people, who rejected d offers even from world bank and many other plum jobs and preferred to serve on the low-paid job as director of the Orangi Pilot Project. who raised the informed voice over Land-grabbing and man-made drinking water crisis in Karachi, who always designed and get implemented the low-cost projects to make the donor grants cost-efficient and cost effective. who pitched the world’s lowest-cost shelter project and get the thousands of families have shelter. Who empowered the low-income groups of women by making the hundreds of women-saving-groups across Pakistan. The rare woman empowered the hundreds of thousands of communities to cast their sewerage lines on self help with the technical guidance of her students-development-practitioners and what not he did.
She was The Parween Rehman.
Hadees Fatima
09/03/2016 at 12:54 am
where are the names of muniba mazari and arfa karim
Sadia
22/06/2017 at 8:32 pm
Remove malala and add arfa karim &Dr aafia