Country’s best women converge at Mohatta

Fresh of an Oscar win, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has been awarded one of the most sought after accolades in Pakistan, a People’s Choice Award for most extraordinary woman of the year.
The 4th Ladiesfund Women’s Awards ceremony was held on Thursday at the Mohatta Palace Museum with 200 of the most influential women in Pakistan in attendance.
Other finalists included Ameena Saiyid, Sana Safinaz, Hina Rabbani Khar and Sherry Rehman.
The chief guests included MNA Khush Bakht Shujaat, US Ambassador’s wife Dr Marilyn Wyatt and Ladiesfund Lifetime Achievement Winner Fatima Suraiya Bajia. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the chief guest, was unable to come due to a last minute request by the president, but he had his speech read out on the occasion.
The event was hosted by Dawood Global Foundation in partnership with Dawood Capital Management Ltd., Khushalibank, Nokia, PSO, Raintree Spa, Swiss Airlines, Airblue, Higher Education Commission, Iqra University, Zerritta Flowers, CIO Pakistan, CityFm89, Color Studio, Shamain, arena, KarachiSnob.com, KFC Women’s Forum, Ayurvedic Skin and Hair Care by Saman’s, Elan Social Women’s Club, Polly & Me, Triumph, Nestle, National Bonds, Oilatum, Sui Southern, Pie in the Sky, Nida Azwer, Threads & Motifs, Taneez, Mausummery, HobNob, Heavenly Regalia by Nazeen Tariq Khan, Sumbul, N’Eco’s, EGO, Ayesha Khurram, D Philosophy by Deepak Perwani, Oxford University Press, Canvas, SpectraBan, Physiogel, Herbal World and Chatterbox.
Other winners included Arfa Karim (posthumous) for Ladiesfund Khushhalibank Idol, Rabia Khan of SunGold for Ladiesfund Trailblazer and Zeenat Saeed Ahmad for Ladiesfund Momentum.
All winners received a plaque, a top of the line high end Nokia Smartphone, a Threads and Motifs dress, a D Philosophy by Deepak Perwani gift, a Herbal World salon gift basket, a Snob.com personalised membership card, a bouquet of Zerritta Flowers and a monetary prize of Dawood Income Fund units. Arfa Karim’s parents Amjad and Samina flew from Karachi to attend the event and accepted the award from Khushhalibank President Ghalib Nishtar.
Their acceptance speech drew the audience to applause and to tears. Chinoy’s acceptance speech also drew the crowd to their feet and was a great inspiration for all. Scholarship winners included Haniyah Shaikh (Ladiesfund Raintree for Scholarship for Bachelors in Textiles at Iqra University); Eman Mehmood (Ladiesfund Ego Scholarship for Bachelors in BE [Electronics Engineering] at Iqra University); and Maheen Khan (Ladiesfund National Bonds Scholarship for Bachelors in Business Administration at Iqra University. Polly & Me was selected as “Young Entrepreneur in the Spotlight”. Moderated by TV personality and entrepreneur Sidra Iqbal, the event started with Quran recitation by Talat Hashmi followed by Singing of National Anthem by pop star Komal Rizvi.
Speaking on the occasion, Tara Uzra Dawood, president of the Dawood Global Foundation, said, “We are excited to announce here the formation of the Ladiesfund women who matter, which will be 25 of the most influential and iconic women across sectors across the country who will be meeting with national and international world leaders to represent and discuss the role of women in Pakistan to the prosperity and economy of the country.
Chinoy commended Ladiesfund for bringing together such extraordinary woman. “I am honoured to be Pakistan’s woman of the year,” she added.
Khush Bakht Shujat said it her privilege to fight for women advocacy in parliament. Fatima Suraiya Bajia, the winner of the Ladiesfund Lifetime Achievement Award, said, “I am honoured to be invited here and thank you for giving me this award. I have always been praised outside of the country so it means so much to me this appreciation here by my own people. This was a beautiful event that made me feel beautiful.”
Ghalib Nishtar, President of the Khushhalibank and Sponsor of Ladiesfund Khushalibank Idol Award, said, “The Khushhalibank is privileged to sponsor the Ladiesfund Khushalibank Idol Award as a tribute to the women of Pakistan. It is an acknowledgement of their courage and commitment in pursuit of excellence and endeavor to create a positive image of Pakistan. This year’s award is dedicated to Arfa Karim, who sadly left us earlier this year. Arfa is and will continue to be an inspiration for the coming generations of Pakistan. The sponsorship of this award is our humble contribution to acknowledge and celebrate the top female role models of the country, particularly those women who are determined to succeed against all odds.”
Dr Marilyn Wyatt said that she is honoured to be standing shoulder to shoulder with some of Pakistan’s most dynamic women, women who are creating jobs, jobs that support families and futures.
“Some people look at Pakistan and see only challenges, troubles, and difficulties. I look at the women we honor tonight, and the men who support them, and see only possibilities, hope, and triumph,” she added.