Our Pride: Pakistani Female Achievers

Fatima Jinnah:
Fatima Jinnah widely known as Māder-e Millat (“Mother of the Nation”), Fatima Jinnah was the younger sister of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After obtaining a dental degree from University of Calcutta in 1923, she became a close associate and an adviser to her older brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who later became the first Governor General of Pakistan. After the independence of Pakistan, she co-founded the Pakistan Women’s Association which played an integral role in the settlement of the women migrants in the newly formed country. She died in Karachi on 9 July 1967.

Benazir Bhutto:
Benazir Bhutto served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Ideologically a liberal and a secularist, she chaired or co-chaired the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from the early 1980s until her assassination in 2007. She returned in 1986 and transformed the PPP’s platform from a socialist to a liberal one, before leading it to victory in the 1988 election.

Fahmida Mirza:
Fahmida Mirza is a Pakistani politician and is currently the Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination since August 2018. She served as the 18th and the only women Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan from March 2008 to June 2013.

Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan:
Lady Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, one of the leading female figures of the time, founded the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) to help Pakistani women and empower them in all spheres of life. The development of APWA aimed to provide Pakistan Military with medical and logistical care, which paved way for the first female batch in the Army Medical Corps. Later in 1949, she established Pakistan Army Women National Guard that conducted combat courses. She became the first GOC with the rank of an honorary Brigadier.

Major General Shahida Malik:
Major-General is a retired and high-ranking two-star general officer and a former deputy commander (Surgeon-General) of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps. She is the first lady officer in the Pakistan Army to have reached to a two-star rank.

Major General Nigar Johar:
Major General Nigar Johar (Brigadier at the time), in 2015, became the first female officer to serve on a command assignment and in 2017 she became the third female Major General of Pakistan Army. Johar is the third woman in the history of Pakistan Army to reach the rank of major general. She belongs to the Army Medical Corps.

Ayesha Farooq:
Ayesha is a Pakistani fighter pilot from Hasilpur, Bahawalpur District, and is the first woman to become fighter pilot in Pakistan Air Force. In 2013, she became the first and only Pakistani female fighter pilot to qualify. She now flies missions in a Chinese-made Chengdu J-7 fighter jet alongside her 24 male colleagues in Squadron 20.

Marium Mukhtar:
Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar was a Pakistani fighter pilot. She died after a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) FT-7PG aircraft crashed near Kundian in Mianwali District in the northwest of Punjab, Pakistan on November 24, 2015. She is the first female combat pilot of Pakistan to embrace martyrdom.

Kainat Junaid:
The first woman from Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) to have been selected for fighter pilot training in Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Kainat not only secured the top position in PAF’s test for GD Pilot, but has also become Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot to serve the country alongside her father (squadron leader Ahmed Junaid).

Saira Amin (Squadron Leader):
Saira Amin is a Pakistani (war ready) fighter pilot. With her performance she has made history by becoming the first female to have earned a Sword of Honor in any defense academy of Pakistan.

Rizwana Hameed:
Pakistan’s First Female Police Chief. She made history by becoming the first female head of a male police station in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Hameed has been a member of the provincial police force for the past 15 years and has participated in numerous crime investigations as well as daring raids against suspected criminal terrorist hideouts.

Helena Saeed:
Helena Saeed has become the first female Additional Inspector General of Police in the country’s history. Helena is not only the first female to achieve this milestone but she’s also the first individual to have done it from Balochistan. Currently, she is the highest ranking female officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP).

Rafia Qaseem Baig:
Rafia Qaseem Baig is a Pakistani police officer who works in explosive ordinance disposal. She was the only woman among the 31 police officials selected for an elementary course named the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, in Nowshera — a programme centred on handling and defusing explosives.

Fatima Surraya Bajia:
Fartima Surraya Bajia was an Urdu novelist, playwright and drama writer from Pakistan. She was awarded various awards at home and abroad including Japan’s highest civil award in recognition of her works. Bajia remained Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh province in Pakistan, and was a member of the managing committee of the Arts Council of Pakistan.

Bano Qudsia:
Also known as Bano Aapa, was a Pakistani novelist, playwright and spiritualist. She wrote literature in Urdu, producing novels, dramas plays and short stories. Qudsia wrote for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages. Her play Aadhi Baat has been called “a classic play”. Qudsia’s novel Raja Gidh (The King Vulture) is considered a modern Urdu classic. The most well-known plays she wrote include Tamasil, Hawa ke Naam, Seharay and Khaleej. Bano Qudsia died in Lahore on 4 February 2017.

Hasina Moeen:
Haseena Moin is a Pakistani dramatist, playwright and scriptwriter. She has written several plays for stage, radio and television, some of which have even gained international repute. She is the recipient of the Pride of Performance award for her services to the performing arts in Pakistan.

Noor-ul-Huda Shah:
Noor ul Huda Shah is a Pakistani dramatist and former caretaker minister. She is well-known Sindhi language and Urdu language playwright, novelist and a former Provincial Minister of Sindh, Pakistan.

Bapsi Sidhwa:
Bapsi Sidhwa is a renowned Pakistani American novelist of Gujarati Parsi descent who writes in English. She is best known for her collaborative work with Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Sidhwa wrote both the 1991 novel Ice Candy Man which served as the basis for Mehta’s 1998 film Earth as well as the 2006 novel Water: A Novel on which is based Mehta’s 2005 film Water. Some of her famous novel includes The Crow Eaters, The Bride and An American Brat.

Farhat Ishtiaq:
She is a Pakistani writer, author and screenwriter. She is best known for her romantic novels Humsafar, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu, Diyar-e-Dil, Dil se Nikle Hain jo Lafz and Woh Jo Qarz Rakhty Thay Jaan Per. She mostly focuses on Pakistani society. Farhat Ishtiaq published the Hindi Edition of her Famous Novel Woh Yakeen Ka Naya Safar on Amazon. She has also Published Roman Urdu Edition of her short story Rait se but na bana.

Jehan Ara Saeed:
Jehan Ara Saeed was veteran radio newsreader of Radio Pakistan. She was the first woman English newsreader of Radio Pakistan. She was born in Hyderabad Deccan in India in 1926. She joined Radio Pakistan in 1950 and remained associated with it till 1973.

Kausar Samreen:
First woman director of Radio Multan, Eminent poetess of Urdu and regional language Seraiki and broadcaster. Kausar Samreen assumed charge as first woman Station Director of Radio Pakistan.

Kanwal Naseer:
Kanwal Naseer, well known for her voice, selection of words and impressive speech is PTV’s first announcer. She is the daughter of Radio star Mohini ji, who was the first female announcer and radio broadcaster of Pakistan Radio.

Shaista Zaid:
Shaista joined PTV in 1969 as the newscaster and did English news bulletin. She was also handed the responsibility of making some historic announcements for PTV.

Ishrat Fatima:
Ishrat Fatima is a former Pakistani newsreader and radio presenter worked for Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan. In 2019, she received civil award for her services. Also awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) by the Government of Pakistan and Nigar Award.

Roohi Bano:
Roohi joined television when she was doing her Masters in Psychology from the Government College, Lahore. Roohi acted memorably in Kiran Kahani, Zard Gulab, Darwaza and many other countless famous dramas in the decade of 1970s and 1980s. She was conferred the Pride of Performance award by the President of Pakistan in 1981. She also earned many PTV awards, notably Nigar Award, Graduate Award and Lux Lifetime Achievement Award.

Uzma Gillani:
She is a veteran Pakistani television actress and advertiser. Uzma began her career through PTV’s most successful play Waris (1979–1982), which earned her widespread acclaim and recognition and a Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1982.

Bushra Ansari:
Bushra Ansari is a Pakistani actress, comedian, singer and playwright who started her career as a child performer in the 1960s. Ansari won numerous awards during her career, including the Presidential Pride of Performance Award in 1989 for her contributions to the arts of Pakistan. 

Marina Khan:
Marina Khan is a Pakistani television and film actress, director and a producer. Her performances include Tanhaiyan, Dhoop Kinare, Nijaat and Tanha. She left industry in mid 2000s and again made a comeback from Tanhaiyan Naye Silsile which was the sequel to her debut series Tanhaiyan of 1985.

Mahira Khan:
Khan is best known for “Humsafar”. In 2011, Khan made her film debut in a supporting role in Shoaib Mansoor-directed Bol. In 2015, she played the lead role opposite Humayun Saeed in Bin Roye. In 2016, she played a leading role in Asim Raza-directed film Ho Mann Jahaan. In early 2017, Khan co-starred in Indian film Raees opposite Shah Rukh Khan, which was her debut in the Hindi film industry.

Mehwish Hayat:
She is a Pakistani film actress who is known for her roles in Load Wedding, Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Actor in Law. She was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2019. She won the Lux Style Awards for Best television Actress in Kami Reh Gayi (2013).

Saba Qamar:
Saba is one of Pakistan’s most recognized and highest-paid celebrities. She is the recipient of several accolades, including four Lux Style Awards, a Hum Award, and a Filmfare Award nomination. The Government of Pakistan honoured her with two of the country’s highest civilian honours, the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2012, and Pride of Performance in 2016.

Shireen Anwar:
Shireen Anwar is among the top three renowned cooking expert of Pakistan. She has her own cooking show on Masala TV. Her enthusiasm and affection for cooking has additionally propelled her to discover new dishes.

Zarnak Sidhwa:
She is featured in Hum Masala TV show “Food Diaries”. She made her place as a parsi and is best known for her art of baking and pastries.

Naheed Ansari:
A standout among the most generous names in cooking and home stylistic theme, Naheed is among Top 10 Chefs in Pakistan. Food presentation, styling, arranging and home decor are her additional characters. She has presented various TV programs under her name.

Bilquis Edhi:
Bilquis Bano Edhi, widow of Abdul Sattar Edhi, is a professional nurse and one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan. She has been named The Mother of Pakistan. She was born in 1947 in Bantva. She heads the Edhi Foundation, and with her husband received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service.

Asma Jehangir:
Asma Jilani Jahangir was a Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist who co-founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Jahangir was known for playing a prominent role in the Lawyers’ Movement and served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and as a trustee at the International Crisis Group. Jahangir is the recipient of several awards . Jahangir was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2018, the highest degree of service to the state, and for services to international diplomacy by Mamnoon Hussain.

Nasira Iqbal:
Justice Nasira Javid Iqbal is a Pakistani jurist and law professor who served as a justice of the Lahore High Court from 1994 to 2002. She was one of the first five women to be appointed to the Lahore High Court, where she served as a justice from 1994 to 2002.

Khalida Rashid Khan:
Khalida Rashid Khan is a Pakistani judge who became the first female judge in the Superior Judiciary of Pakistan. She also served as the president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Sultana Siddiqui:
Sultana Siddiqui is a Pakistani television director, producer and a businessperson from Karachi. She is the director of Hum Network Limited and the president of Hum Network Limited. By virtue of that she became the first woman in South Asia to establish a TV station.

Seema Aziz:
She developed a successful business (Bareeze) while at the same time created a major non-profit organization that aims to empower the youth of tomorrow through education. Seema described that she was lucky enough to receive a high-quality education but there was no concept of women business women in her family. Although she had supportive parents, in those days starting a business was not a mainstream concept. Bareeze Founded in 1985 in Lahore by Seema Aziz. Its parent company is Sefam (Pvt.) Ltd.
Bareezé is a Pakistani high-end fashion retailer which is based in Lahore, Pakistan. It has its operations in Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Abida Parveen:
Abida Parveen, is a Pakistani Sufi singer. Abida Praveen is one of the highest paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music has earned her many accolades, and she has been dubbed as the ‘Queen of Sufi music’.

Noor Jehan:
Noor Jehan, also known as Malika-e-Tarannum (the queen of melody), was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked first in British India and then in Pakistan. Her career spanned more than six decades.

Parveen Shakir:
Parveen Shakir published her first volume of poetry, Khushbu [Fragrance], to great acclaim, in 1976. She subsequently published other volumes of poetry. She was awarded the Pride of Performance for her outstanding contribution to literature in 1976.

Kishwar Naheed:
Kishwar Naheed is a feminist Urdu poet and a writer. She has written several poetry books. She has also received many awards including Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her literary contribution towards Urdu literature.

Sana Safinaz:
Sana Safinaz is a Pakistani clothing and accessories retailer. It sells ready-to-wear, unstitched and haute couture. It was founded by two close friends Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer in Karachi, Pakistan.

Maria B:
Maria B is a Pakistani clothing brand which was founded by Maria Butt. It is based in Lahore, Pakistan. The clothing includes ready-to-wear, unstitched and haute couture. In 2017, they announced to incorporate Swarovski’s crystals in their embroidered chiffon and lawn collections.

Masarrat Misbah: 
Beauty entrepreneur, cosmetologist and social activist of international fame, Masarrat is an awe inspiring successful businesswomen.

Nabila Maqsood:
Nabila Maqsood, opened her first salon in 1986 in Karachi and through sheer hard work she is the gigantic name we all know today. She has been associated with the fashion world for the past 20 years or so. She has expanded her salon all over Pakistan and has recently opened a men’s saloon “N-Gents” as well as a Nail Salon.

Fouzia Saeed:
Fouzia is currently the Director General, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). She is a social activist, gender expert, trainer/facilitator, development manager, folk culture promoter, television commentator and author. She has previously worked as Director General, Lok Virsa , Pakistan besides having worked in the Development Sector for nearly two decades.

Kashmala Tariq:
Kashmala is a Pakistani politician who is the currently the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace. Previously she has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2002 to 2013.

Shamshad Akhtar:
Shamshad Akhtar is a Pakistani development economist, diplomat and intellectual who served as the caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan. Prior to that, she served as the 14th Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, the first woman to assume this position.

Nergis Mavalvala:
Nergis Mavalvala is a Pakistani-American astrophysicist known for her role in the first observation of gravitational waves. She is the Curtis and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is also the Associate Head of the Department of Physics.