Pakistan has many immensely talented women who have played a vital role in changing the social standards and norms of the country. These women come from all walks of life and have played their role in all sorts of sectors.
This feature includes six of the most influential women in Pakistan. These women, from diverse backgrounds, have worked diligently to promote a positive image of Pakistan globally. Their efforts combined with individual efforts from all of us would ultimately determine both the pace and the quality of social change that we all desire to manifest in Pakistan.
Muniba Mazari
Pakistan’s only wheel chair-bound TV anchor, Muniba Mazari, was part of the prestigious Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list for 2017.
Mazari has been representing the voice of women, men, girls and boys across Pakistan on important issues of gender inequalities and discrimination with a determination to not give up and win against the odds. In December 2016, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) named Muniba Mazari as Pakistan’s first female Goodwill Ambassador.
Sultana Siddiqui
One of the pioneers of the entertainment industry, businesswoman Sultana Siddiqui, is the President and Founder of Hum Network in Pakistan. Along with that she is also a director and a producer.
Born in Karachi, Sultana was the first woman to start her own TV channel. Under her direction, Hum TV has received the prestigious Lux Style Award, four years in a row.
As a public speaker, Sultana has spoken on many local and national platforms. She has won numerous awards including Best Producer, music production, Hazrat Khadijat-ul-Kubra Award, Woman of Vision award, Nigar Award, the Gold Medal Award and the Sindh Graduate Association Award.
Masarrat Misbah
Masarrat Misbah has a dynamic persona with multiple talents. She is a distinguished entrepreneur, cosmetologist and philanthropist.
With a strong desire to make a meaningful contribution and a will to bring about a positive change in the lives of those who had suffered due to atrocities of deliberate burning, she decided to establish an NGO and eventually laid the foundation of the Depilex Smile again Foundation in 2005.
For her valuable contributions in various fields of life, she is the recipient of several prestigious awards. As the President of Depilex Smile again Foundation, she is the first woman from Pakistan who has been awarded by the Italian Government on Women’s Day for her courage and commitment. In April 2010, she was also honoured with the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance. Apart from that, she has also been invited as a valued guest to deliver various lectures on beauty, philanthropy and social work at multiple universities nationwide.
Sadia Bashir
Pakistani entrepreneur Sadia Bashir found she had a passion for video games, and while female education was not a priority at her home, she fought for and funded her own education. After working for established gaming companies she co-founded Pixel Art Games Academy, inspiring women in Pakistan to dream bigger. She has been awarded by “Women Can Do” at the US Embassy at the Women Entrepreneurs Summit in 2017 for her accomplishments.
Momina Mustehsan
Musician and social activist Momina Mustehsan shot to overnight success after her debut performance on Pakistani music show Coke Studio in which she performed alongside the renowned Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This talented singer has used her fame and social media presence (she’s one of Pakistan’s biggest social media influencers) to speak candidly about issues like cyber bullying and depression.
Fiza Farhan
Co-founder of the Buksh Foundation, a microfinance institution that takes clean energy projects to the underprivileged and rural areas of Pakistan, Fiza Farhan is a force to reckon with. Her organisation since 2009 has has brought solar powered lights to around 6750 household all across Pakistan. Her efforts have been recognised world wide and she was also included in a feature by the Forbes.
