R

T H E M O ST POW E R FU L AN D IN FLU E N T IAL WO M E N IN T H E WO R LD T O DAY.

T H E LAR GE ST E V E R IN IT IAT IV E O F IT S K IN D PR O M O T IN G T H E M O ST
POW E R FU L AN D IN FLU E N T IAL PAK IST AN I WO M E N
W IT H IN BR IT AIN , PAK IST AN AN D IN T E R N AT IO N ALLY .
 WOME N P OWE R 100
In the inaugural Pakistan Power 100 we have dedicated a whole section just
to women. Women who, during the past 60 years, broke records, broke
ground, blazed trails, and suffered trials, shattering ceilings of glass and
made their mark in a male dominated world. While some are obvious
choices and some obscure, all acted to increase our
liberty, safety, and prosperity
 WOMEN POWER 100
Aamna Taseer First Capital Group
Abida Parween Singer
Adeeba Malik QED-UK
Aleema Khan SAARC
Amber Haroon Dawn Group
Ameena Saiyid Oxford Univesity Press
Asma Jahangir SCBAP
Attiya Inayatullah UNESCO
Ayesha Vardag Vardag Lawyers
Bapsi Sidhwa Author
Bilquis Edhi Edhi foundation
Bunto Kazmi Fashion
Bushra Nasir Headteacher
Faiza Butt Artist
Farhat Hashmi Al-Huda International
Fariha Razak Jang Group of Newspapers
Farkhunda S Ahmed Associated Liner Agencies
Farrah Qureshi Global Diversity Partnership
Farzana Bari Human Rights Activist
Fatima Bhutto Writer and Activist
Fehmida Mirza Speaker National Assembly
Feriha Peracha PHD Doctor
Painting by Afsana Karim Hina Rabbani khar Foreign Minister
Huma Abedin Deputy chief of Staff
Imtaz Khaliq Fashion Designer
T hey are politicians, C E O s, bankers, cultural
Jugnu Mohsin Publisher Friday Times
icons, academics and entrepreneurs. All are Kaukab Rajput Consultant
Kishwar Naheed Poet
inspirational. Yet they are a small selection of the Kiswer Falkner House of Lords
thousands of Pakistani women who are shaping Laila H Sarfraz APWA
Madeeha Gauhar Writer
todays global community. T heir contributions Maheen K Ali Karma
have inspired the actions of women for Maheen Khan Fashion
Maleha Lodhi Journalist
generations to come and ensure Pakistan remains Maliha Ahmed Business
proud of their achievements and conscious of Marvi Memon Parliamentarian
Meesha Shafi Singer & model
their impact. Meherene Jabbar Film Director
Mehreen Rizvi Bonhams
Mona Siddiqui Professor
In the inaugural Pakistan Power 100 we have Mukhtar Mai Human Rights
Musharaf Hai LOreal
dedicated a whole section just to women. Women
Nadia F Jamil Actor / TV Anchor
who, during the past 60 years, broke records, Nafis Sadik United Nations
Namira Salim Explorer
broke ground, blazed trails, and suffered trials, Nargis Sethi Politics
shattering ceilings of glass and made their mark Naseem Hameed Athlete
Naseem Zehra Journalist
in a male dominated world. W hile some are Nasira J Iqbal Poet
obvious choices and some obscure, all acted to
increase our liberty, safety, and prosperity
52
 Nasreen Jalil Senator Sayeeda Warsi House of Lords
Nasreen M Kasuri Beacon House Seema Aziz CARE Foundation
Nasreen Rehman Academic Sehba Sarwar Author
Naz Mansha Nishat Linen Sehyr Saigol PDFC
Nergis Mavalvala Astrophysiscist Shafqat Sultana First Women Bank
Nigar Ahmad Aurat Foundation Shaheen Sardar Ali UN
Nighat Awan Shere Khan Shaila Abdullah Author
Nilofer Saeed Citizens Foundation Shamshad Akhtar State Bank of Pakistan
Noshena Mobarik M Computer Technologies Shandana Khan Rural Support Program
Qaisra Shahraz Novelist Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Film Maker
Rameeza Nizami Nawa-i-Waqt Group Shazia Hidyat Olympic Athlete
Reedah El-Sale Mica Gallery Shazia Marri Politician
Roshaneh Zafar Kashf founder Shehnaz Wazir Ali
Sabiha Sumar Film-maker Shehrbano Taseer Journalist / Activist
Saima Mohsin journalist Sherry Rehman Activist
Saira Wasim Artist Shirin Tahir Kheli Political scientist.
Salima Hashmi Artist Sidra Sadaf Cyclist
Salma Maqbool Fighting Blindness Simi Kamal Aurat Foundation
Salma Yaqoob Respect Party Sophia Khalique Doctor
Samar Minallah Film maker Souriya Anwar SOS Villages
Samina Ahmad Dr Global Wellness Initiative Sultana Siddiqui HUM TV
Samina Khan Paper magazine Surraiya Zia Doctor
Samina Qureshi Writer Syeda Hina Babar Ali Packages,
Sara Suleri Yale professor Tanveer Naim Author and Activist
Sarah Belal Lawyer Tehmina Durrani Writer
Sarah Hashwani Hashoo Foundation

Painting by Afsana Karim

Renowned artist Afsana Karim has been
commissioned by Power 100 to create a
series of paintings for each global Power
100 title. For private commissions from
Afsana please contact:
Andrea@hamptonsmanagement.com

53
 33 49

29 65 79

C ONTE NTS Amjad Hussain 40 Imam Qasim 25

Aqeel Karim Dhedhi 42 Imran Aslam 19
Arif Naqvi 43 Imran Khan 29
The Women 100 52 Arif Nizami 19 Irfan Mustafa 43
The Future Leaders 73 Art Malik 19 Izzat Majeed 43
Trailblazers 46 Asif R angoonwala 11 J ahangir S iddiqui 43
Arts & Literature 30 Asma J ahangir 25 J ames C aan 15
B us ines s 10 Atif Bajwa 43 J amil Naqsh 31
C orporate & F inance 42 Ayesha Vardag 54 Kiswer Falkner 35
Media, Fas hion & Mus ic 18 Baroness Warsi 39 Lord Nazir Ahmed 38
P ublic S ector 34 Bilquis E dhi 25 Mansoor Karim S haikh 19
S ocial & C ommunity 24 Bunto Kazmi 57 Mian G ohar E jaz 10
Bushra Nasir 56 Mian Mansha 11
Aamina Taseer 17 E hsan Malik 43 Michael Nazir Ali 41
Aaqil Ahmed 19 Farrok C aptian 25 Mir S hakil ur R ahman 19
Abdul S attar E dhi 27 G house Akbar 11 Moazzam Malik 37
Abida Parween 18 Hanif Kureshi 30 Mohammed Adil 16
Afzal & Akmal Khushi 11 Haroon & Farooq S heikh 11 Mohammed J awad 37
Ahmed R ashid 31 Hassan S heheryar Yasin 23 Monis R ahman 48
Amber Haroon 19 Hina R abbani Khar 35 Musharaf Hai 43
Ameena S aiyid 31 Huma Abedin 35 Naeem G hauri 16
Amin G ulgee 31 Hussain Dawood 11 Nafis S adik 35
Amir Khan 79 Iftikhar Muhammad 34 Nigar Ahmed 24
 SH AR M E E N O BAID C H IN OY
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy had ambition to
do something for her country; she started
by writing columns in newspapers about
the forlorn and unfortunate events
happening in Pakistan. Later, she entered
the film making industry just so she could
convey her message to the public.
Her career in documentary filmmaking
began when she examined the plight of
Arghan refugee children in Pakistan for an
article. Their situation was so ominous,
and their stories so compelling, that
Sharmeen decided to return to Pakistan
and create a film about them. She
petitioned Smith College and New York
Times Television production division for
the funds that would allow her to
accomplish her goals. Intrigued and
interested by her story, both organizations
gave her the finances as well as production
equipment and training.
Obaid began her calling with New York
Times Television in 2002 where she
produced Terrors Children, a film
about Afghan refugee children, which won
her the Overseas Press Club Award, the
American Women and Radio and
Television Award, and the South Asian
Journalist Association Award. Since then,
she has produced and reported on more
than twelve films around the world.
Obaid produced and accounted on four
multi-award winning documentary films
for New York Times Television. In
2003, reinventing the Taliban was awarded
the Special Jury Award at the BANFF TV
festival in Canada, the CINE Golden Eagle
Award, the American Women in Radio and
Television award, and the Livingston
Award. In 2005, her film Women of the
Holy Kingdom, which provided an inside
look at the womens movement in Saudi
Arabia, won the South Asian Journalist
Association Award.
Director
In 2005, Obaid began working with
Channel 4 in the United Kingdom
reporting on four films for their
Unreported World series. Pakistans
Double Game looked at sectarian violence
in Pakistan, City of Guilt explored the
Catholic Churchs pro-life movement in
the Philippines, The New
Apartheid looked into growing
xenophobia in South Africa, and Birth of a
Nation delved into the politics of East
Timor. In 2007, Obaid was named
journalist of the year by the One World
Media awards for her work in the series.
In 2007, Obaid travelled to Afghanistan
and reported for Channel 4 and CNN.
Her film, Afghanistan Unveiled/Lifting
the Veil, focuses on stalled reconstruction
and the repression of women in the
country.In 2010, she won an Emmy
Award for her documentary, Pakistan:
Children of the Taliban, which explores
Taliban recruitment strategies, their effect
on the youth and their methods to
radicalize the countrys young and often
dejected populace. Children of the Taliban
premiered FiLums (2011) - the largest
film festival in Pakistan held annually at
the Lahore University of Management
Sciences.
Known for On February 26, 2012, Obaid became the
documentaries first Pakistani woman to win an Oscar for
the co-directed documentary Saving Face,
focusing on life in which she made with Daniel Junge (who
started the film and titled it before she
the Muslim world, came aboard as co-director) and which
chronicles the lives of acid attack
Obaid-C hinoy
survivors in Pakistan. The film also follows
became the first British-Pakistani plastic surgeon
Mohammad Ali Jawad who performs
non-American reconstructive surgeries on survivors of
such terrible attacks. The film was co-
to win the directed by American filmmaker Daniel
Livingston Award. Junge.
23
 AAM IN A T ASE E R
First Capital Securities Corporation Limited

Aamna Taseer serves as the

C hairman and C hief E xecutive
O fficer of First C apital Securities
C orporation Limited. She has
been the C hief E xecutive O fficer
of Pace Pakistan Limited since M ay
2, 2011 and has been the
C hairman of the Board at M edia
T imes Limited since June 29,
2011.

She is one of the main promoters

who established First C apital
Securities C orporation Limited
( FC SC ) in Pakistan in 1994, a
full service brokerage house with
equity participation by Smith
Barney Inc U SA and H G Asia
H ong K ong.

FC SC ser the tone for investment
banking services and together with
the help of international banks,
listing in Pakistan and
Amina Taseer successfully laid the
background for important advisory
and corporate finance transactions.
Since then she has been actively
involved in establishing other
companies in the financial sectors.
As a Director of Pace Pakistan Ltd,
with a listing in Pakistan and
convertible bond listing in
Singapore, the Pace brand is
recognized not only in Pakistan
but by international fund managers
across the globe.
As a Director of Pace Today the group has 6 operational
shopping malls in different cities
Pakistan Ltd, with a
and around eight projects under
various phases of development.
convertible bond
listing in S ingapore, First C apital Group also took the
she has ensured the lead by introducing the first
Pace brand is E nglish news channel in Pakistan
recognized not only Business Plus which was followed
in Pakistan but by by the first exclusive kids channel,
Z aiqa C hannel, M edia T imes
international fund
Limited, a First C apital Group
managers across
C ompany is one of the fastest
the globe. growing E nglish newspaper, T he
Daily T imes and an U rdu daily by
the name of Aaj K al

17
THE POWER 100

MEDIA, FASHION & MUSIC

Abida Parween
Singer
Abida Perveen is one of the most
well known names in the Music
industry, both nationally and
internationally. She is of Sindhi
descent and started receiving
musical training from her father
at an early age. She started her
professional career in 1973 and is
now one of the most sought after
singers of this country. Her
T H E POW E R BR O K E R S genres include the Ghazal, Kafi
and Qawwali, and she sings in
multiple languages including
Aaqil Ahmed BBC Urdu, Sindhi and Persian. She has
had numerous international
Abida Parween Singer performances which have led to
Amber Haroon Dawn Group an avid international fan
following.
Arif Nizami Pakistan Today
Art Malik Actor
Hameed Haroon Dawn Group
Hassan Sheheryar Yasin HSY
Imran Aslam GEO
Mansoor Shaikh JWT Amber Haroon
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Singer Dawn media group
Amber Haroon is the
Salman Ahmad Junoon
Chairperson of Dawn Group.
Salman Iqbal ARY Dawn is one of the widest read
Sehyr Saigol Libas English newspapers of Pakistan,
with a daily circulation of over
Shakil ur Rahman Jang Group 30,000 copies. The Dawn Media
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Filmaker Group is the trading name of
Pakistan Herald Publications
Shoaib Mansoor Director (Pvt.) Ltd. The Karachi based
group is owned by the powerful
Haroon and Saigol families. Its
CEO is Hameed Haroon, and its
chairman is Amber Haroon
Saigol, daughter of the previous
chairman Mahmoud Haroon and
the 11th richest individual in
Pakistan in 1993.
 BAR O N E SS WAR SI
House of Lord

A lawyer, a businesswoman, a campaigner

and a cabinet minister, Sayeeda Warsi has
had many roles, but she is best known for
being the first Muslim to serve in a British
cabinet and the foremost Muslim politician
in the Western world.

One of five girls born to immigrants of

Pakistani origin in Dewsbury, West
Yorkshire, Sayeeda studied law at Leeds
University, going on to work for the
Crown Prosecution Service before setting
up her own legal practice.

Her father, a former millworker and bus

driver who set up his own business,
instilled in her values of freedom,
responsibility and aspiration. These are the
values that inspired her to get involved in
the Conservative Party and it was there
that she became Vice Chairman and advisor
to the leader, Michael Howard, in 2004.
She unsuccessfully stood as a
Parliamentary candidate in her home town
the following year. In 2007 she was
elevated to the House of Lords aged 36,
making her the youngest peer in
Parliament. Later that year she travelled to
Sudan and famously helped to secure the
release of the British teacher Gillian
Gibbons who was on trial for blasphemy.
A racial justice campaigner for many years,
instrumental in the launch of Operation
Black Vote and serving six years at the
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust,
Sayeeda was chosen to take on Nick Griffin
on Question Time in 2009. It was the first
time the British National Party leader
appeared on a flagship BBC political show.
Her performance singled her out as sharp,
articulate, unhysterical and warmly
engaging (Observer).
In 2010 she was appointed by Prime
Minister David Cameron as Minister
without Portfolio, becoming the first
Muslim to serve in a British Cabinet. The
iconic image of her on the steps of No 10
Downing Street in a shalwar kameez (a
traditional ethnic outfit) were beamed
around the world. She was also appointed
In 2012 she led the as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party
the first Asian to chair a major British
UKs largest ever political party. In 2012, Sayeeda was made
Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and
ministerial delegation Commonwealth Office and Minister for
Faith and Communities.
to the Vatican,
gaining global In government she has devoted herself to
making the case for faith, declaring in a
coverage for a 2010 address to the Anglican Bishops
Conference that governments should do
speech which God. In 2011 she provoked support and
controversy when she famously declared
called on E urope that Islamophobia had passed the dinner
table test. In 2012 she led the UKs
to strengthen its
largest ever ministerial delegation to the
C hristian Vatican, gaining global coverage for a
speech which called on Europe to
identity. strengthen its Christian identity.
Outspoken and challenging on the issues
that many people seek to avoid, she has
become an interesting and distinct voice
on topics previously considered taboo. She
led the governments campaign to
criminalise forced marriage and spoke out
on the sexual grooming of children by
gangs.
39
 SH E R R Y R E H M AN
Ambassador to United States

Sherry Rehman is a member of the Pakistan Rehman resigned her post as Information
Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP.) Minister on 14 March 2009, due to
She has been politically active as a politician differences of opinion with the
since 2002 and continues to do so today. President Asif Ali Zardari on imposing
She served as a Member of the National restrictions on the media and taking away
Assembly (MNA) from 2002 to 2007, the free will from them.
where she acted as Central Information
Secretary. During this time, she was also She was named Pakistans Ambassador to
President of Policy Planning for the PPPP United States following the resignation
and served on the partys Foreign Relations of Hussain Haqqani, who was asked to
Committee. resign by Prime Minister Gilani in the
wake of the Memogate scandal.
In March 2008, Rehman was appointed
again by declaration as MNA for Sindh Rehmans latest book The Kashmiri Shawl:
province to the reserved MNA seat for From Jamawar to Paisley, co-authored
women. Prime Minister Yusuf with Naheed Jafri, was published in 2006
Gilani appointed her Minister for by Mapin Publishing India and Antique
Information and Broadcasting, and on 31 Collectors Club UK. The book was
March 2008 she took oath under the reign nominated for The R.L Shep Ethnic
of President Pervez Musharraf. Textiles Book Award for 2006 in the US.

During her tenure in parliament, Rehman She accomplished many things in such a
authored all five PPP bills tabled in the short period of time for example in 2002
National Assembly: the Women she became the first Pakistani to be
Empowerment Bill, Anti-Honor Killings recognized with an award for independent
Bill, Domestic Violence Prevention Bill, journalism by the UK House of Lords in
Affirmative Action Bill and Hudood Repeal its Muslim World Awards Ceremony in
Bill. She also moved two bills concerning the year 2002. In 2006 she won the R.L
the media: the Freedom of Information Bill Shep Ethnic Textiles Book Award, for The
and the Press Act, which prevents working Kashmiri Shawl. Two years down the lane,
journalists from being arrested under the in 2008 Sherry Rehman presented the
1999 Press Ordinance. International Peace Award for Democrats
R ehmans latest by the Human Rights Commission. She
In civil society, Rehman is the Chair of the won the title of Democracys Hero by
book The Kashmiri the international Republican Institute in
Lady Dufferin Foundation Trust, allegedly
the largest non-profit provider of women S hawl, was 2009 for her services to the restoration of
and childrens subsidized healthcare in the democracy. The same year she also won
nominated for The Freedom Award Pakistan by the
province of Sindh.
The R .L S hep Association of Television Journalists for
In January 2009, an article in her work for media independence in
E thnic Textiles Pakistan/ Then in 2011 she also owned
the International Republican
Institute referred to her as Democracys Book Award the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award by The
Hero as a result of her close association Womens Democracy Network (WDN),
for 2006 Washington.
with former Prime Minister Benazir
Bhuttos campaign for democratic rule in in the US .
Pakistan. The reference, picked up by
several Pakistani media outlets, received
mixed coverage. In the same month,
Rehman was named among the 100 Most
Influential Asians by UAE magazine Ahlan.

55

A wall in Bunto Kazmis office is decorated
with framed embroideries. Some are
Buntos own creations, while others are
samples that shes collected over the years.
A wooden door is fixed alongside another
wall, the intricate carvings surrounding a
full-length mirror. Buntos work desk
stands in a corner of the large room. It is
scattered with mementoes, a sample card
labelling various Swarovski jewels and a
curious case of numerous magnifying
glasses which, as I later discover, are used to
scrutinise the intricate embroideries of her
designs. And while the exquisite formals
that Bunto designs are nowhere in sight,
this room still reflects her ethos as a
designer, her mastery over luxurious
detailing, her penchant for the arts and
traditions and her predilection for intricate
craftsmanship.
It is Buntos love for her craft that attracts a
sizeable number of clients to her office on a
daily basis. Most of them are eager
brides-to-be, who are more than happy to
dictate nothing more than their preferred
color palette, leaving the intricacies to
Bunto. I have been very lucky with my
clients, she tells me. While I do take the
brides preferences into consideration, the
clothes are often completely based on my
own vision. The bride and her family only
Bunto creates veritable
see the final outfit once its completed.Yet,
I have never had one disgruntled client.
There are entire families who have had
their bridal wear designed by me. My
mother-in-law dressed their mothers at
their weddings and now I am dressing their
daughters and granddaughters.
In this day and age of media hype and
advertising, Buntos thriving bridal business
is something of an anomaly. She has never
advertised nor has she ever invested in a
fashion shoot. She hardly ever gives
interviews to television or the print media.
I suffer from sleepless nights every time I
read something about myself in the
newspaper. I am a very shy person and Id
BU N T O K AZ M I
Fashion
much rather let my work speak for me as
opposed to speaking about myself in
interviews, she confesses, right before I
manage to cajole her into an interview.
For while Bunto may not like talking
about herself, there are certainly many
people who want to know about her.
Taught by her mother-in-law, the pioneer
Sughra Kazmi, Buntos bridal couture is in
a league of its own. She handles her work
with a grace and an intelligence that is
rare.
I began working while my children were
still young and I knew from the outset that
I wanted my work to set a standard of its
own and never be run-of-the-mill, she
says. At the recent Fashion Pakistan Week
(FPW) in Karachi, one of the highlights
was her careers most iconic designs
showcased as the opening act for the
event. I took part in FPW to show my
support to the Fashion Pakistan Council,
of which I am a founder member, she
says. To date, I have only taken part in a
handful of fashion shows and I, frankly
speaking, wouldnt want to be part of any
such event again. Fashion weeks are
beneficial for designers who earn by
replicating their designs for retail. I am a
couturier who creates one-of-a kind
pieces on order. I dont have any stock
stowed away expressly for the catwalk and
works of art, with the have to borrow clothes from my clients. I
dont want to put that kind of pressure on
fabric serving as her them again and even business-wise, there
is no point in my taking part in fashion
canvas Buntos weeks.
work isnt just
When I designed Sharmeen Obaid
breathtakingly Chinoys outfit for the Oscars, I got
beautiful, its numerous calls, asking me to replicate the
dress. I refused simply because I had
representative expressly created the dress for Sharmeen,
with a lot of love and effort. I just couldnt
of our culture reproduce it for the sake of acquiring
and traditions. more business!
57

Fatima Murtaza Bhutto is the
granddaughter of former Prime
Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the niece
of former Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza
Bhutto. She has created her own
identity as a Pakistani poet, writer
activist and journalist. Despite having
all the credentials to be a successful
Pakistani politician, Fatima Bhutto has
opted not to run for any political
office.
Following her father Murtaza Bhuttos
assassination in 1996 at the hands of
Karachi police, Fatima continued
living with her step-mother Ghinwa
Bhutto. Fatimas birth mother was an
Afghan Pashtun, Fauzia Fasihudin
Bhutto.
Bhutto received her secondary
education at the Karachi American
School. She graduated from Columbia
Despite having all the
University in 2004, majoring in
Middle Eastern Languages and
Cultures and from the School of
Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
in 2005 with a Masters in South Asian
Government and Politics.
Fatimas work has appeared in the
New Statesman, Daily Beast,
Guardian, and The Caravan
Magazine.Fatima wrote a weekly
column for Jang - Pakistans largest
Urdu newspaper and its English sister
FAT IM A BH U T T O
Writer
publication The News for two years.
She covered the Israeli Invasion and
war with Lebanon from Lebanon in
the summer of 2006 and also
reported from Iran in January 2007
and Cuba in April 2008.
She has gained recognition as an
author through her books the first of
which was Whispers of the Desert, a
volume of poetry, which was
published in 1997 by Oxford
University Press Pakistan when
Fatima was 15 years old. Her second
book was titled 8.50 a.m. 8 October
2005, a collection of first-hand
accounts from survivors of the 2005
earthquake in Pakistan, was published
by OUP in 2006. Her third book,
Songs of Blood and Sword, tells the
story of a family of feudal landlords
who became powerbrokers. The book
reveals a daughters love for her father
and her search to uncover the truth of
his life and death.
credentials to be a
successful Pakistani Fatima currently writes and lives in
Karachi and despite not being directly
politician, Fatima
active as a politician she continuous to
Bhutto has opted support her step-mother Ghinwa
not to run for Bhuttos party Pakistan Peoples Party
(Shaheed Bhutto).
any political
office.
59
Kiswer Falkner Baroness
Kishwer Falkner, Baroness
Falkner of Margravine is a British
Liberal Democrat politician and
Life Peer. She is Liberal
Democrat Spokesperson for the
Ministry of Justice in the House
of Lords. Prior to her
entitlement as a Life Peer with
the title Baroness Falkner of
Margravine, Falkner worked in a
variety of jobs for the Liberal
Democrats in the House of
Commons and the party
headquarters including as
Director of International Affairs
and Director of Policy. In
February 2008 she was appointed
as the inaugural chancellor of
The University of Northampton..
Zamir Akram
Ambassador
As Pakistans Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to the
UN and other International
Organizations in Geneva since
2008, Zamir Akram has been
playing a leading role in areas
such as Disarmament, Human
Rights, Refugees, Humanitarian
Affairs, Trade and Development,
Intellectual Property, Labour and
Health among others. He was
instrumental in promoting
consensus on contentious
resolutions regarding religious
intolerance, freedom of religion
and freedom of expression.
Nafis Sadik
Dr. Nafis Sadik served as
Executive Director of the United
Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), with the rank of
Under-Secretary-General, from
1987 through 2000. On her
appointment in 1987, she became
the first woman to head one of
the United Nations major
voluntarily-funded programmes.
In June 1990, the Secretary-
General of the United Nations
appointed Dr. Sadik Secretary-
General of the International
Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD), 1994. Dr.
Sadiks work has brought her
many international awards and
honours.
Moazzam Malik
DIFID
Moazzam Malik is Director for
Western Asia and Stabilisation at
the UK Department for
International Development
(DFID). He oversees the UK
Governments development
partnerships in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
and stabilisation assistance to
address conflict and insecurity in
developing countries. Moazzam
leads a division comprising over
300 staff and a budget of almost
500m spread across five
departments.
Huma Abedin
Huma Mahmood Abedin (born
1976) is a deputy chief of staff
and aide to US Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton. Abedin
began working as an intern for
the White House in 1996 and was
assigned to Hillary Rodham
Clinton. She currently works for
Clinton, now Secretary of State,
at the State Department and is
known as Hillarys shadow. In
2010, Abedin was included in
Times 40 under 40, a list of a
new generation of civic leaders
and rising stars of American
politics.
Michael Nazir Ali
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was the
106th Bishop of Rochester, for 15
years, until 1 September 2009.
He is originally from Asia and
was the first non-white Diocesan
Bishop in the Church of England.
He was appointed in 1994.
Before that he was the General
Secretary of CMS from 1989-
1994 and prior to holding this
position was Bishop of Raiwind in
Pakistan. He holds both British
and Pakistani citizenship and from
1999 was a member of the House
of Lords where he was active in a
number of areas of national and
international concern.
Fehmida Mirza
Dr. Fehmida Mirza is the current
and 18th Speaker of the National
Assembly, a lower house of
Parliament of State of Pakistan.
She is the first woman to hold the
office to date, and is widely
regarded as one of the highest
ranking female politicians in the
history of Pakistan. Fehmida
Mirza hails from the influential
Sindhi family, and currently
representing the Badin
Constituency since 1997 and has
continued to be a parliamentarian
since then. She runs several
welfare projects in her
constituency, one of the poorest
districts of Pakistan.
Hina Rabbani Khar
Hina Rabbani Khar is the first
female and the youngest person
to ever head Pakistanis Ministry
of Foreign Affairs since July
2011. She graduated with a B.Sc.
in Economics from Lahore
University of Management
Sciences in 1999 and received her
M Sc (Hon) in Business
Management from the University
of Massachusetts Amherst in
2001. She won the elections in
2002 from the platform of PML-
Q and was the Parliamentary
Secretary for Economic Affairs
and Statistics.
35
 H IN A R ABBAN I K H AR
Foreign Minister

Hina Rabbani Khar is a Pakistani

stateswoman and an economist who is the
current and 26th Foreign Minister of
Pakistan. Hailing from the powerful feudal
family, she embarked her statesmanship in
2002 in the government of Prime minister
Shaukat Aziz and subsequently served in
the Finance ministry and Foreign ministry
as its minister of state. After successfully
contesting in 2008 general elections, she
briefly served in the Finance ministry and
directed the policies concerning the
national economy in the absence of the
finance minister in 2010.

Finally, she was ascended as first female

foreign minister of the country in July
2011 after the surprise and dramatic
resignation of Mehmood Qureshi. Since
2008, she has been a senior and high-
ranking member of the Central Executive
Committee, and is widely regarded as one
of the highest ranking female officer in the Hina R abbani Khar On 6 June 2012, Pakistan on Tuesday
renewed its call for a U.S. apology over
political arena of Pakistan. is a Pakistani the killing of 24 soldiers in U.S. warplane
Khar was appointed Minister of State for
stateswoman and attacks at the Salala checkpost ,as Foreign
Minister Hina Rabbani Khar argued that
Foreign Affairs, the deputy head of the an economist
"higher principles should take precedence
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 11 February
who is the current over politically popular considerations".
2011, as part of Gillani's cabinet reshuffle.
After Shah Mehmood Qureshi's and 26th Khar challenged the U.S. to "live up to its
democratic ideals by respecting the will of
resignation as Foreign Minister, she Foreign Minister Pakistans elected legislature", Foreign
became acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
on 13 February 2011.She was approved as of Pakistan Policy magazine said in a Doha-datelined
report on its interview with the top
Foreign Minister on 18 July and was
Pakistani diplomat. On 15 December
sworn-in on 19 July, becoming the
2011, when the United States cut off the
youngest and first female Minister of
financial aid to Pakistan, Khar warned her
Foreign Affairs. President Asif Ali Zardari,
counterpart Hillary Clinton and quoted:
who succeeded Musharraf in 2008, said
"the United States will be responsible for
the appointment was "a demonstration of
defeat in war on terror as Pakistan could
the government's commitment to bring
not fight the war alone".
women into the mainstream of national
life". She was appointed foreign minister
during the difficult times of Pakistan,
especially when country's armed forces
were striking down the extreme elements
in Western Pakistan and the huge outcry
and an anti-American emotions were at
high rise.

61
 rrok Captian
LRBT
In 1978 Farrokh K Captain lead a
major US- akistan joint venture
chemical manufacturing business
in Pakistan, namely Captain-PQ
Chemical Industries (Private)
Limited. He is also a
distinguished member of the
Board of the American Business
Council. Mr. Captain now
devotes much of his time in the
field of social work. He is a
Trustee of the Layton Rehmatulla
Benevolent Trust and has served
as Chairman of the Pakistan
Human Development Fund. He is
currently serving his eighth
three-year term as Director of
Shell Pakistan Ltd.
am Qasi
Al-Khair
Imam Qasim founded Al-Khair in
2003, Sinc its establishment, the
Foundation has been meticulously
engaged in charitable work
assisting those who are less
fortunate than others. Al-Khair
has established overseas schools
for orphans and shelters for
widows and vulnerable women.
The Foundation also constructs
water-wells making fresh, clean
drinking water accessible to
remote communities.
Seema Aziz
Care Foundation
Seema Aziz is an entrepreneur
and social activist who has been
working for the cause of
education in Pakistan since 1988.
In 1985, she started a business, to
prove that Pakistan could produce
embroidered fabric equal in
quality and design to the best in
world. Today, 26 years on,
Bareeze is a symbol of pride for
Pakistan. After the flood of
1988, which devastated a large
part of the Punjab, Seema
founded CARE Foundation,
which is currently the largest
non-governmental organization in
Pakistan, and perhaps the largest
school system in the world.
Roshaneh Zafar
Kashf Foundation
Roshaneh Zafar is the Founder
and Managing Director of Kashf
Foundation, Chair Kashf Holdings
and Founder Kashf Microfinance
Bank Limited based in Pakistan.
She founded the Kashf
Foundation the first specialized
microfinance organization in
Pakistan in 1996. Today, one of
the fastest growing MFIs in the
country, Kashf Foundation was
the first microfinance institute in
Pakistan to achieve financial self
sufficiency and demonstrated the
business case for investing in
womens economic
empowerment.
Bilquis Edhi
Bilquis Edhi Foundation
Bilquis Edhi is one of the most
well known names in the field of
public service. She heads the
Bilquis Edhi Foundation, a
nonprofit organization that
provides 24 hour emergency
services across the country.
Bilquis Edhi married her husband
Abdul Sattar Edhi at an early age
and since then the two have been
of invaluable service to the
people of Pakistan. The
BilquisEdhi Foundation, better
known as Edhi Foundation,
provides shelter and free medical
care for the poor, rehabilitation
for drug addicts, relief efforts in
times of national crises.
Souriya Anwar
SOS Villages
Souriya Anwar became President
of the International Womens
Club, she turned the socialising
club into a service oriented
group, which it steadfastly
remains, to date. Along the road
there have been other projects,
each bringing its own brand of
responsibility like office bearing
for the Muscular Dystrophy
Welfare Association, the Fatima
Memorial Hospital, the
Committee for Crimes Against
Women, the Prison Reforms
Commission, the Divisional
Social Welfare Council, to a five-
year tenure as a Justice of the
Peace!
Asma Jahangir
AGHS
Asma Jahangir is currently the
President of the Supreme Court
Bar Association of Pakistan and
has been twice elected as
Chairperson of the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan. She is
also a Director of the AGHS
Legal Aid Cell, which provides
free legal assistance to the needy.
Jahangir was instrumental in the
formation of the Punjab Women
Lawyers Association in 1980 and
the Women Action Forum in
1985. Jahangir has authored two
books and five papers. She has
been the recipient of a number of
international and national awards,
Magsaysay Award in 1995.
Mukhtar Mai
Activist
In June 2002, Mukhtar Mai was
the victim of a gang rape.
Although custom would expect
her to commit suicide after being
raped, Mukhtaran spoke up, and
pursued the case, which was
picked up by both domestic and
international media. She started
the Mukhtar Mai Womens
Welfare Organization to help
support and educate Pakistani
women and girls. In April 2007,
Mukhtar Mai won the North-
South Prize from the Council of
Europe.
25
 T E H M IN A DU R R AN I
Tehmina Durranis controversial
autobiography My Feudal Lord was
published in 1991. It is now translated into
39 languages and is a European Bestseller.
The book was a pioneer in surmounting
the hitherto unbroken silence of Muslim
women since the 14th century, reconciling
the rights of women with the paramount
principle laid down for them in Islam
and yet it was a book before its time.
There is a price that comes with all
rebellions and revolts that break the status
quo. Tehmina has experienced it.
Writing was not enough she searched for
other ways to express. In 1992 she
exhibited her paintings Catharsis.
One of the paintings became the cover of
her third book Blasphemy.
Observing that no political party since
Pakistans inception had raised a voice for
the accountability of corrupt public
representatives, and recognizing that the
silent majority of Pakistan had neither,
voice, influence nor resources to make the
demand on the affluent, in 1993 she
formed an issues oriented movement,
Jihad for Accountability of Public Servants.
She went on a hunger strike for seven days.
Her demand was meant to create public
awareness towards the core issue facing
Pakistans progress and prosperity;
through the self- preservation of criminal
activity and its wide spread acceptance
which had shred the moral fabric of the
new generation. Today accountability is a
household word.
confines that imprison
Believing, those who ruled over our
people knew nothing about the core issues
that confronted the oppressed, deprived
and directionless millions in every corner
of the country, she sought out the only
man who had spent a lifetime in the
service of the downtrodden Abdul
Satar Edhi.
Writer & Artist
She recorded the thoughts, inspirations,
motives, observations and works of
Pakistans most revered and renowned
social reformer. Its a guide towards
making a personal revolution, which in
time would move the collective spirit
towards humanitarian Islam. In 1994, A
Mirror to the Blind, Mr. Edhis narrated
autobiography, an official document of the
Founder of Edhi Foundation.
Consistent in her attempt to expose
current, social, religious and political
contradictions, in the year 1998, she
published Blasphemy, a novel inspired by a
true story.
As an act of compulsory Universal
Compassion, and oneness with human
community, in 2002, she stood up for the
freedom of Fakhra Yunas, a victim of Acid
Terrorism. Fakhras son is under the
supervision of an Italian family and
Tehmina Durrani.
After a great silence now comes; A Love
Affair, oil and water colour paintings
along with a coffee table book,
symbolizing the freedom of the soul from
the bondage expressed in Catharsis, as she
says.
Many forms of Happy things in Sorrow times is a novel
with 38 water colour illustrations done at
expression are Afghan refugee camps in Kandahar,
Turkham and Chaman. It is the first part
required to break out
of a trilogy. A story told from the heart of
of the multiple a child, Basrabia, in war torn Afghanistan
from the time of the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan to the present US War on
Terror.
the soul. Writing
A war, not against soldiers and warriors,
and Painting are but against innocent childrenThey
just two of them, need another chance in the interest of
world peace.
says Tehmina.
33
SEEMA AZIZ
Care Foundation
Seema Aziz is an entrepreneur and social activist who
has been working for the cause of education in Pakistan
since 1988.
In 1985, she started a business, to prove that Pakistan
could produce embroidered fabric equal in quality and
design to the best in world. Today, 26 years on, Bareeze
is a symbol of pride for Pakistan and the most
recognizable Pakistani brand both within the country
and abroad. The Bareeze group, which now has 7
brands, sells through over 400 points of sale worldwide
and is Pakistans largest fashion retailer.
After the flood of 1988, which devastated a large part
of the Punjab, Seema founded CARE Foundation,
which is currently the largest non-governmental
organization in Pakistan, and perhaps the largest school
system in the world. CARE educates more than
150,000 students through 225 schools providing them
with a quality marketable education which sets them
at par with some of the best schools in the country.
CAREs mission is to have 1 million children enrolled
in its schools within the next 5 years.
26
ROSHANEH ZAFAR
Kashf Foundation
Roshaneh Zafar is the Founder and Managing Director of Kashf
Foundation, Chair Kashf Holdings and Founder Kashf Microfinance
Bank Limited based in Pakistan. She founded the Kashf Foundation
the first specialized microfinance organization in Pakistan in 1996
after a chance meeting with Professor Muhammad Yunus of the
Grameen Bank. Today, one of the fastest growing MFIs in the country,
Kashf Foundation was the first microfinance institute in Pakistan to
achieve financial self sufficiency and demonstrated the business case for
investing in womens economic empowerment. In 2002, Kashf
Foundation was awarded the Microfinance Excellence Award by the
Grameen Foundation-USA for its groundbreaking innovations in the
field of microfinance in Pakistan, while in 2005 it won the AGFUND
International Prize for Microcredit 2005 out of 98 countries. In 2008,
Forbes ranked Kashf Foundation 34th in its top 50 MFIs of the World.
Ms Zafar has also spearheaded and led the team to establish the Kashf
Microfinance Bank, the first MFB in Pakistan to mobilize deposits from
low income households especially women which received its license in
October 2008.
Prior to starting Kashf, she worked with the World Bank in Islamabad
in the Water and Sanitation department for several years. Ms. Zafar was
one of the first Ashoka Fellows in Pakistan and was also selected as a
Social Entrepreneur by the Schwab Foundation in 2002 and the Skoll
Foundation in 2007. She represented the Social Entrepreneurs at the
World Economic Forum in January 2004 and spoke at the Opening
Plenary of the WEF along with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, President
Obasanjo of Nigeria, Carly Fiorina of Hewlett Packard and Mr.
Wolfenson of the World Bank, responding to the theme Partnering for
Security and Prosperity. Ms Zafar has also been awarded the Tamgha-i-
Imtiaz, one of Pakistans highest civilian awards 2005, by the President
of Pakistan for her work in the field of development and womens
empowerment. In 2009 Kashf Foundation under the leadership of
Roshaneh Zafar was awarded the OneWoman Initiative Award by the
US State Department in a ceremony in Islamabad by US Deputy
Secretary of State Mr. Jacob Lew. She has also been awarded the Vital
Voices Economic Empowerment Award 2010.
 AYESHA VARDAG
Vardags Solicitors
Britains top divorce lawyer was Ayesha Vardags
billing by both the Law Society and New Yorks
prestigious Huffington Post though Easy Living
Magazine March 2012 featured her as The Diva of
Divorce. She is best known for winning the landmark
Supreme Court case of Radmacher, changing the law
on prenuptial agreements to make them work in
England. Vardag entered divorce law from a blue chip
City/international/Bar base. She trained and qualified
as a solicitor at Linklaters London and Moscow on
project finance work with diamond mines and power
stations. She dual-qualified as a barrister and was once
Nicholas Mostyn QCs mini-pupil. Her own divorce
lawyer hired her away from the Bar to join his team.
Ayesha Vardag established her eponymous firm, now
Vardags, in 2005. She has a reputation for hard-hitting
litigation, commercial savvy, fearlessness and strategic
intellectual; vision. This, coupled with an informal
no-nonsense style, gritty life experience and empathy
in spades, won her a high-value, high-profile client
base within weeks of opening her doors. She has acted
against heirs and heiresses, tycoons, international
footballers/polo players, celebrities and royalty. She
has acted in cases involving the royalty of Arab states
and in leading Pakistani divorce and nullity matters.
Ayesha Vardag is one of the very few family lawyers to
have received the accolade of the Times Lawyer of the
Week. She is regularly sought by the media for expert
commentary on the leading cases and legal issues of
the day, appearing not least on BBC TV News, CNN
and the Today Programme. She is sought out as a
lecturer, appearing recently in the White Paper
conference and at the inaugural session of the Law
Societys public debates, on the The End of Marriage
As We Know It.
54
ADEEBA MALIK
QED UK
Adeeba Malik MBE has held numerous ministerial and non-ministerial high
profile regional/national board level appointments in large, complex and
diverse organisations over the last 15 years. She has been the first Asian
woman or non white person to serve on most of these boards. These include
Yorkshire Forward, British Waterways, the National Clinical Assessment
Authority, Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Immigration, Waterways
Trust. In 2007 she was appointed Chair of the National Ethnic Minority
Business Forum based in the Department for Trade and Industry and became
a Commissioner for the Women and Work Commissioner set up by the then
Prime Minister Tony Blair. As a result of her very varied experience of board
and non executive appointments, she has been promoted and highlighted as a
role model in national media campaigns led by the Cabinet Office and the
Governments Equalities Office over the last 12 years.
She is also Deputy Chief Executive of a leading and respected national
economic development agency QED-UK, which is currently celebrating its
21st anniversary. Some of QED-UKs highlights include runner up to the
National Charity of the Year Award, Winner of the Charity Finance Award and
winner of the Professor Charles Handy Alchemist Award. QED-UK has ran
campaigns for the private and public sector aimed at the disadvantage
communities and it delivers public sector contracts. QED-UK is currently
delivering a European Commission funded programme in Pakistan, a first of
its kind to help women with language and citizenship skills.
She continues to speak at high profile events at national and international level
and has won numerous mainstream awards. Currently she is a Commissioner
of the Northern Economic Futures Forum set up by the leading national think
tank IPPR, whose remit is to look at the drivers for a northern economic
growth. She is also a governor of Sheffield Hallam University, one of the
largest universities in the country.
 FARRAH QURESHI
Global Diversity Practice
Farrah Qureshi is the Managing Director
and owner of the Global Diversity Practice
Ltd. She is recognised as one of the
foreamost experts of International
repute on Global Diversity Consultancy
and training in the world.She is a leading
authority on combining the disciplinesof
Behavioural Economics, Psychology,
Leadership and Organisational consulting
with Human Capital issues of Diversity
and Inclusion. Farrah has put the mission
of Equity and the full utilisation of Human
Capital at the heart of her professional life,
initially inspired by the experiences of her
professional father who migrated to the
UK in the early 60s and now further
motivated by the aspirations of her two
teenage daughters to excel and contribute
as third generation British Pakistanis.
Farrah had delivered unique and
innovative learning and consultancy
products and specialises in advising and
coaching CEOs, Boards and top teams.
The impact of her work and global
footprint has left an indelible mark on her
clients and has been experienced in 93
countries spanning an impressive portfolio
of corporate and public sector clients.This
diverse range of clients and pioneering
solutions ranges from leading the team
that was commissioned to develop the
award-winning Diversity collateral and
Strategy for theOlympic Games 2012 to
56
BUSHRA NASIR
Headteacher
delivering keynote addresses for the World
Bank in Washington to delivering
innovative solutions for large corporates
such as Wal-Mart, Shell Santander, Dell,
Microsoft, Walt Disney,Lloyds of London
Kelloggs,DHL, Aviva,RBS, JPMorgan,
Nike, Nuvo Nordisk,ABB,KPMG, MOD
DFID,UN, EU, and many more.
Farrah has 24 years experience in her
field, her early career combined Academic
rigour as Head of Consultancy Solutions
for the University of Leeds, then she was Bushra Nasir is a secondary Headteacher with 19 years
headhunted to join the private sector
experience at Plashet School in the London Borough of
where for the past 18 years,she has
Newham. She was the first Muslim female Headteacher
developed and led both European and
of a secondary school in the UK. In 2003, she was
Global Diversity Practices. Prior to her
current position, Farrah was Managing awarded a CBE for her services to education and in 2005
Director within Norman Broadbent, a won the Asian Professional Women of the Year award.
leading Global Executive Search Business. She served on the General Teaching Council from 2000-
Three years ago she gained ownership of
2005 and was President of the Muslim Teachers
the business and has gone onto to be a
Association for 3 years. In 2006, Mrs Nasir was awarded
successful entrepreneur.
an Honorary Doctorate from University of East London
She is the author of Understanding for her services to education and in 2007 she received a
Diversity An Organisational Guide Fellowship from Queen Mary College London.
which was her first book. Farrah has also
contributed to Understanding Dignity @
Plashet is an 11-16 comprehensive Girls School with
Work.
1355 students. 90% of the students are from ethnic
Farrah has been the recipient of numerous minority backgrounds, a high percentage with free school
awards including Grattan Award winner meals. Plashet gained Beacon status in September 2000,
for her work in Diversity. She has been Leading Edge status in 2004 and Science Specialist
shortlisted for Asian Women of College Status in September 2007. The school was
Achievement 2004/7 Corporate Category
Outstanding in its OFSTED inspection in March 2005
(nominated by Aviva), 2005 Opportunity
and March 2008. It was featured in a national report
Now Award for London Underground.
produced by OFSTED entitled 12 Outstanding Schools
The Aviva Toolkit won the UN World
excelling against the odds.
Diversity Award 2008 for Innovation
DFID was short-listed for the CIPD
People Management Awards in 2009 for Mrs Nasir has spoken at a wide range of conferences and
her work. Farrah has also been included in
events related to educational issues for parents,
the Asian Power100 publication in 2009
headteachers and educationalists. She is co-author of a
by RBS and was recognised as one of the
book called Breaking Stereotypes which aims to provide
Top Twenty leaders to look out for in
positive role models for ethnic minority young people.
2010! In 2010, Farrah received an award
from Walmexfor her services to Global
Diversity.
 FEHMIDA MIRZA FAUZIA AZIZ MINALLAH
Speaker of National Assembly
ddddddd
Artist and Writer

Fauzia Aziz Minallah is an

Dr. Fehmida Mirza, born on December 20, 1956 in Karachi,
is an agriculturist and business woman by profession and is
politically affiliated with the PPPP. She was previously
elected MNA in 1997. Fahmida Mirza is the current and
18th Speaker of the National Assembly, a lower house of
Parliament of State of Pakistan.
She is the first woman to hold the office to date, and is
widely regarded as one of the highest ranking female
politicians in the history of Pakistan. Fehmida Mirza hails
from the influential Sindhi family, and currently representing
the Badin Constituency since 1997 and has continued to be
a parliamentarian since then. A graduate of Liaquat Medial
University in 1982; she is a practiced physician and did her
house job in gynecology and pediatrics. . She is one of the
few women elected from a non-reserved constituency.
Before entering politics, Dr. Fahmida Mirza ran an
advertising agency Informachine, later renamed Information
Communication Limited (ICL). Dr. Mirza is married to Dr.
Zulfiqar Mirza, a close friend of Asif Ali Zardari, the co-
chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Both her husband
and her brother, journalist, Qazi Asad Abid, are former
Members of the National Assembly. Zulfikar Mirza is also
currently a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly and
was former Provincial Home Minister. She runs several
welfare projects in her constituency, one of the poorest
districts of Pakistan.
artist and writer of children
books. Fauzias work
encompassing, stone carving,
painting, photography,
illustrating and writing for
children converges with her
activism through writing and
campaigning for tolerance,
peace, heritage conservation,
environmental and social
matters. Through children
literature she raises these
issues. Her book 'Sadako's
Prayer' is published by the
Asian Network of Trust in
Hiroshima, in Japanese,
English, Dari, Urdu, Pashto
and Torwali. It is the winner
of Hiroshima Citizen's Award
for Peace Education and was
distributed free of cost among
nearly 10,000 children in
Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Japan. Another peace book "
'Titli and the music of Hope' written and illustrated by her is published by the
National Book Trust of India under the International Center for Literacy and
Culture's Peace Book Project in South Asia.
Her involvement with children is through a platform that she has provided to
them in the shape of an NGO called Funkor Child Art Centre, carrying out art
and book reading workshops for children living in shanty towns, for special
children; refugee and Internally Displaced children (IDPs) and so on. Funkor
distributes picture books and notebooks with messages on Hygiene, Sanitation
and environment protection, free of charge among children. Funkor was short
listed for the Bremen Peace award in Germany in 2009, as one of the
nominated projects and organizations, which are exemplary in their work for
peace, justice and integrity of creation. For democratizing art education and
making it accessible to kids from low-income families, so that they too can
playfully discover their own creativity.
Fauzia is the winner of the Ron Kovic Peace Prize, USA in 2010. She is also the
only female editorial cartoonist of Pakistan to have won the All Pakistan
Newspaper award for Best Cartoonist of 1986-87. Her winning entry
lampooned dictator Zias version of democracy with each member of his
Majlis-i-Shoora shown as an identical copy of the general himself. In January
2008,during the lawyers movement against the imposition of emergency by
General Musharraf , her cartoon depicting the general as the emperor without
clothes was used on the cover of HIMAL magazine published from Nepal.
Fauzia is a graduate of the Pratt Institute NewYork. She is one of the few artists
of Pakistan, who revived a dying craft and used it as a medium of her art too.
She is dedicated to promoting, Chitarkari or slate engraving, found in the
cemeteries of Gangar mountain range, Hazara, Pakistan.

58
 MEHREEN RIZVI KHURSHEED
Bonhams
Mehreen Rizvi currently head the
ModernArt Dept at Bonhams,
London. Fluent speaker in Urdu and
English she started her working career
as an intern at Sothebys Islamic
Department in 1992 and then moved
to the companys Finance
Department. She moved to the
Modern Indian Paintings Department
as a cataloguer and introduced
Pakistani paintings for the first time.
She researched and introduced
modern Arab Art in this department
and organized the first sale for it in
2001. From the years 2003 to 2008
Mehreen Rizvi Khursheed was a
consultant at Bonhams for the Indian
and Islamic Department, where she
became responsible for Modern
Indian and Pakistani art sales.
During her career Mehreen Rizvi
Khursheed organized the first
international Arab Art auction at
Sotherbys in London, helped to
organize Sotherbys jewellery talks
and courses in Riyadh and Jeddah in
Saudi Arabia. Mehreen was part of a
team of three people responsible for
the entire Middle Eastern region,
travelling extensively on behalf of the
company to Beirut, Amman, Saudi and
Bahrain and Dubai. She also helped to
put together talks and courses on
jewellery and Art for Sothebys
Institute. She worked at Sothebys for
a total of ten years. She also
62
discovered a number of unrecognized
Indian paintings, and initiated the
unique first sale of Francis Newton
Souza Works on Paper.
The new department evolved out of
the Indian and Islamic Department,
headed by Claire Penhallurick, which
has grown the Modern and
Contemporary area so productively
that the time has come to establish a
stand-alone specialist area.
Mehreen Rizvi Khursheed who has
extensive understanding in this area
will now head the new Department.
Her team includes Farah Hakemi, an
Iranian art specialist, and Charlie
Moore who has recently joined the
department. The team which is based
at 101 New Bond Street, supervises
sales in Dubai and London as part of
its brief. She has discovered a number
of unrecognized Indian paintings
which sold for six figure sums.
At Bonhams she initiated and
organized the unique first sale of
Francis Newton Souza Works on
Paper. This was the first time any
auction house had dedicated a sale to
one particular Indian artist. Mehreen
helped to develop the Pakistani
market which has led to record prices
for the artists Sadequain, Jamil Naqsh
and Chughtai among others.
DR SOPHIA KHALIQUE
Doctor
Dr Sophia Khalique is a partner in private medical practice
in Wimpole Street giving great support to charitable
causes around the world and helping people in different
spheres of medical needs.
Initially Sophia specialised in Anasthesia where she sat for
the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaethetists and
was awarded the rare Gold Magill medal, awarded only
when a candidate is deemed extraordinary.
Sophia is extremely driven, competitive and commited to
alleviate suffering. Her biggest passion in is her
commitment to charitable causes. Mere months after
giving birth to her third child Sophia raised tens of
thousands of pounds for Luekaemia research by competing
in the gruelling Ultra Triathlon finishing in an astonishing
3 hours. She has dedicated much of her adult life working
hands on in the third world recently returning from a trip
to Sierra Leone working closely with Wherever the Need
assisting their work on improved sanitation.
YASMIN QURESHI MP
Yasmin Qureshi has been the Member of Parliament for
Bolton South East since the 2010 General Election.
Yasmin began her legal career with the Crown
Prosecution Service as an in-house Barrister. She
prosecuted on behalf of the crown in numerous criminal
cases. Later she became a specialist casework advocate
dealing with complex and sensitive cases. Since becoming
a Member of Parliament Yasmin has been elected as a
member of the Justice Select Committee and a member
of the Political and Constitutional Reform Select
Committee. Yasmin is the Chair of the All Party
Parliamentary Group on International Justice and the
Secretary of the All party Parliamentary Group on Legal
and Constitutional Affairs.
MEHREEN JABBAR
Film Director
Mehreen Jabbar is a film and television director with 16
years of experience in the industry, with a prolific career
making of gritty, hard-hitting films for Pakistani television.
Over the years she has earned a reputation for
professionalism and excellence, and is quoted widely as an
expert in her field.
Mehreen began her career in television directing TV films
and drama series under the banner of TasVeer Productions,
all of which were critically acclaimed by the Pakistani press.
Ramchand Pakistani, her first feature length film, was
released theatrically in Pakistan, India and the UK in
2008/2009 to wide critical and audience acclaim. The film
premiered in the competition section of the Tribeca Film
Festival in New York in 2008. It won the FIPRESCI PRIZE
from the International Federation of Film Critics and
received many other awards at film festivals around the
world. It was shown at the MOMA (Museum of Modern
Art), New York for a week long screening in 2010. The film
continues to screen in film festivals and college campuses.
Mehreen has been a member of the National Board of Film
Censors in Karachi, a founding member of WAR (War
Against Rape), the KaraFilm Festival in Karachi, has served
as a juror at the Leeds International Film Festival in 2002 and
was the Artistic Director at the Maisha Film Lab in Uganda,
a non-profit training lab founded by director Mira Nair.
Over the years Mehreen has won numerous awards
including the Indus Drama Award (2004), best Director for
Harjai, IndusVision Young Achievers Award (2002), Lux
Style Awards (2002) Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai nominated for
Best TV Series, Kara Film Festival (2001) Best Director &
Best medium-length Film for Daughters of the Late Colonel
and the 9th Lux Style Awards (2010) Best TV Director for
Doraha.
MALEEHA LODHI
Journalist
Dr Maleeha Lodhi, is a journalist,
academic and diplomat from
Pakistan. She was the High
Commissioner of Pakistan to the
United Kingdom and is a former
Pakistani Ambassador to the
United States. In the fall of 2008,
she was a Resident Fellow at the
Institute of Politics, John F.
Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University. She has
also been a member of the United
Nations Secretary-Generals
Advisory Board on Disarmament.
She obtained her Ph.D in Politics from the London School of
Economics in 1980, having received her B.Sc (Econ) from the same
institution in 1976. She taught Politics and Sociology at the London
School of Economics for five years, 1980-85, before returning home
to embark on what was to be a remarkable career in journalism. She
also briefly taught for a year at the Quaid-i-Azam University,
Islamabad, in the Department of Public Administration. Lodhi has
been the editor of Pakistans leading English daily, The News and is
considered amongst the countrys top political commentators.
Dr. Lodhi became Pakistani Ambassador to the US under two different
presidents from 19941997 and then during 19992002 (in the
process of becoming Pakistans longest ever serving Ambassador to the
US), before leaving her post on the completion of her second tour of
duty. Since 2001, she has also served on the UN Secretary Generals
Advisory Board on Disarmament Affairs (20012005) and continued
to do so while holding the post of Pakistans High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom (20032008). She has addressed top Think Tanks and
other foreign policy forums across the world, drawing on her
diplomatic skills and media background.
She married a banker in London but they divorced five years after
marriage. She has a son, Faisal from this marriage. She has been
awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz award in Pakistan (2002). She received an
Honorary Fellowship from the London School of Economics (2004)
and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from Londons
Metropolitan University (2005).
Dr. Lodhi is also the author of two books: Pakistans encounter with
Democracy and The External Challenge both collections of her essays
on contemporary issues.
63
 QAISRA SHAHRAZ
Writer
Qaisra Shahraz, born in Pakistan and living
in the United Kingdom, is a critically
acclaimed novelist, scriptwriter and a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Her
novels The Holy Woman, Typhoon have
been translated into several languages
including Mandarin. She has completed
her third novel and is working on her
fourth Silence.
Her first novel The Holy Woman was
awarded the title Best Book of the Month
by Waterstone booksellers, won the
Golden Jubilee award and has now
become a best seller in Indonesia and is
published as a Gold edition. She has taken
part in many international literary festivals
and book fairs including Jaipur, Beijing,
Ottawa, London, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi,
Istanbul, Kerala, Bali and Dubai.
Her drama serial The Heart is It (Dil Hee
To Hai) won two TV Awards in Pakistan.
Her award-winning short stories are
studied in schools and colleges, especially
A Pair of Jeans in Germany and UK. Her
work is studied in many universities
around the world. A text book, The Holy
and the Unholy Critical Essays on Qaisra
Shahrazs Fiction published recently,
celebrates her literary achievement.
Qaisra Shahraz has an excellent academic
record with four degrees including two
masters in literature and script-writing for
64
TV. Qaisra feels passionately about
education and womens issues. She enjoys
a second highly successful career as an
inspector for Ofsted, an international
education consultant, school governor,
teacher trainer and visiting professor at
universities around the world. Under the
auspices of the British Council she has
trained thousands of teachers and heads of
institutions in many countries, including
in India, Germany, Morocco, Indonesia,
Dubai and Pakistan; promoting quality and
equality in education and adult literacy
(lifelong learning) especially for women.
She is devoted to empowering women
through her novels and drama serials, as
well as encouraging them into education
and the world of work. She a former
Director of Gatehouse Books.
At a global level Qaisra through her
literature and lectures successfully
achieves her mission to challenge
Islamophobia, build cultural bridges and
promote a better understanding about the
Muslim world. At a local level she works
with many communities including the
Chinese, Hindu and the Jewish
community to promote community
cohesion. As an executive member of Faith
Network for Manchester and Muslim-
Jewish Forum, she is dedicated to
promoting respect for other faiths.
She is proud of and enjoys her multiple
identities as a British Muslim woman of
Pakistani origin, regarding it as an
extremely enriching life experience. She
has excellent personal and work links with
Pakistan. She is devoted to her family life,
siblings and three sons.
REEDAH NIJABAT
EL-SAIE
Reedah Nijabat El-Saie, of Pakistani origin, is the founder
and Director of Mica Hub, which includes Mica Gallery,
Mica Home and social enterprise Mica Creative CIC. The
company was established in 2007 and specialises in
Modern Islamic & Contemporary Art and has been said to
be forging an entirely new market. (Roxane Zand,
Director of Middle Eastern Art, Sothebys).
Reedah has recently curated My Place On The Isle;
Exploring Faith & Identity an art competition capturing a
snapshot of Britain in the prelude to the Olympic Summer
2012, judged by Roxane Zand (Sothebys), Dr Venetia
Porter (The British Museum) & Professor Ben Quash
(Kings College), the winners of which were announced at
the Saatchi Gallery in July 2012. She also curated The Brit
Pak showcasing the Best of British Pakistani artists, which
toured at the Southbanks Alchemy Festival in April
2012. She co-curated From Facebook To Nassbook part
of the London Mayors Arab Art Festival Shubbak
promoting contemporary Egyptian art, which toured in
Frankfurt. Reedah is also developing Mica Homes
contemporary Islamic home furnishings range.
Reedah regularly comments on emerging art markets and
artists and advises a wide range of international buyers
and institutional collectors. She is increasingly being
invited to speak on Modern Islamic & contemporary art
and has been featured in The Times Womens Power List,
MoneyMarket UK, Choice Magazine, The Guardian, The
Independent, Al Masry Alyoum, Blue Chip Magazine,
Hello! Pakistan, International Herald Tribune Pakistan, Al-
Jazeera, CNN and more recently BBCs Hidden Art of
Islam. Reedah has completed a Foundation in Art at
Chelsea College of Art & Design, a Diploma in Islamic Art
at VITA (Visual Islamic Traditional Arts) as well as a
number of executive courses at Sothebys.
 DR NIGHAT AWAN
Business woman
Nighat Awan is one of the countrys
most successful and high profile
businesswomen. She successfully
heads one of Manchesters most
recognisable Asian food businesses,
The Shere Khan Group. In addition
her new ventures are property
development and interior design.
Her previous achievements include
successes in diverse companies
encompassing fashion, floristry,
property as well as food.
From a modest start packing tights for
pocket money at the age of 11 to
printing T-shirts at 17 and starting her
own fashion business at 20, hard work
combined with tenacity has earned the
diminutive 56 year old numerous
honours and awards, most notably an
OBE in 2004 for her services to
export and charity. In July 2006
received an honorary doctorate from
Manchester Metropolitan University.
A supporter of many charitable causes
and a versatile individual, Nighat is
also the creator, director and lead
68
presenter of 2005 documentary
Another Pakistan. This self funded
documentary was aimed at putting
Pakistan in the right light and put paid
to the negative publicity around that
time, hence the interest by BBC
Worldwide who distributed and aired
it in 22 countries. The film is also used
as an educational tool for further and
higher education.
Nighat has been Chair of the North
West Development Agency supported
Ethnic Minority Business Forum
(EMBF) since 2006. In 2011, Nighat
was appointed Chair of Mosaic, one of
HRH the Prince of Wales charities.
SURRAIYA ZIA
Doctor
Dr. Zia is a GP Principal with Special Interests in
Gynecology, Dr Zia has been running her own practice
for over 7 years, managing 3500 patients. Dr Zia
manages all the chronic diseases herself at the practice.
She is a fellow of the Royal College of General
Practitioners. Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive
Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetrics and
Gynecologists.
Dr Zia also currently a GP tutor for Postgraduate and
Undergraduate students from University College
London Medical School teaching Womens Health in the
practice. Dr Zia feels community base teaching is very
important for medical students as they are learning
everyday health problems which they do not see on the
hospital wards.
She is involved with charities focused to help people who
are affected in natural disasters and is one of the
Directors in Peace of Mind and B.F.C.O in (Bagh, Azad
Kashmir), which are non-profit organizations. She has
helped many people who have been affected by the
earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, Floods in Balochistan in
2007, Floods in Sindh in 2010, earthquakes in Indonesia,
floods in Bangladesh and the Haiti earthquake disaster in
2010. She aims to respond rapidly to any disaster and has
provided the affected with acute medical relief, humanity
missions, food and water. While these disasters quickly
come and leave devastating effects, but relief works goes
on for many months and years to rebuild lives for those
who were effected. Dr Zia offers rehabilitation missions,
with a mobile team to manage chronic diseases, giving
counseling and psychotherapy.
She has also completed water supply schemes, to help
those who were affected by the disasters. A Medical
Centre has been built, to help with managing chronic
diseases and was supplied with medication which are
free. In Balochistan, arrangements were made to
organize a medical camp to help and treat patients.

Meesha S hafi became
famous in the fashion
industry as a model,
the television industry
as an actor and
the music industry
as a singer, she
established herself
in every arena
she has chosen
and made sure
she excelled in
each of these.
Meesha Shafi is a Pakistani singer,
actress and model. Meesha started her
career as one of Pakistans charming
models and took over Pakistans
fashion industry in a very short time in
her professional career being ranked as
a leading Fashion model. From there
she began her acting career as well,
and she now plans to make a
renowned position in the field of
singing as well.
Having charm and chic, Meesha is
amazingly establishing her name as a
versatile lady; by working in various
fields at a time. Currently, Meesha
Shafi, is also working as the Brand
Spokesperson of LOreal Pakistan.
M E E SH A SH AFI
She has acted in different and versatile
television programs such as Muhabbat
Khawab ki Soorat and Ye Zindagi to
woh nahi. And she is set to appear in
Hollywood Mira Nairs adaption of
Mohsin Hamids The Reluctant
Fundamentalist. This project also
starred well known Hollywood actress
Kate Hudson, Live Schreiber, Riz
Ahmed, Kiefer Sutherland, and an
Indian actor Om Puri. Meesha Shafi is
also playing a role in Bilal Kashanis
WAAR. She grew fame in the fashion
industry as a model, the television
industry as an actor and the music
industry as a singer, she established
herself in every arena she has chosen
and made sure she excelled in whatever
she chose.
Actor & music
Meesha was lead the vocalist
for Overload from 2008 until 2011.
She was also featured in Coke
Studio with Arif Lohar and as a solo
artist. The single with Lohar gathered
over 9 million views on YouTube, the
most-viewed Coke Studio song yet, the
song was currently featured in a
Bollywood movie called Cocktail. She
has also contributed to the soundtrack
of The Reluctant Fundamentalist in a
track produced by her husband,
musician Mahmood Rahman. Shafi will
also be on Adil Omars debut
album, The Mushroom Cloud Effect,
releasing in 2012 and also featuring
guests such as Xzibit, Everlast, Cypress
Hill, and DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit
65
 SAM IN A AH M AD
Doctor

Doctor Ahmad has led a
gifted life. It is rare that one
can combine two distinct, but
totally dissimilar, careers and
achieve unprecedented
success in both endeavors.
Dr. Ahmad has done just that.
A graduate of the University
of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
with a Medical Doctor
degree, she began her
medical career at Services
Hospital as an Internal
Medicine Physician in the
Senior Gastroenterology
Department where she
assisted with fiber optic video
endoscopic procedures.
Thereafter she accepted an
appointment with the
National Institute of Child Health as a Casualty Medical Officer working
with emergency patients. She rapidly progressed with that clinic to
Assistant to the Director, assisting in all areas of the clinic. Thereafter, she
started her own practice - Family Practice Health Care Clinic for Women
and Children, providing all types of medical healthcare services for women
and children.
Dr. Samina Ahmad has been the Business
Manager for Junoon (www.Junoon.com) a
highly acclaimed, internationally renowned,
Pakistani rock band that specializes in Sufi
music promoting peace throughout the world.
She organizes tours, books engagements, and
manages business affairs, finances and publicity
for the band. She recently negotiated in
collaboration with the United Nations, a south
Asian college tour for the band, to travel to
Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to raise AIDS
awareness. Samina led the band to memorable
venues such as the Nobel Peace prize concert in
Oslo in December 2007 and a historic first ever
concert in Kashmir in May 2008.
Samina, along with her husband Salman have
launched their latest initiative the Salman and
Samina Global Wellness Initiative [SSGWI].The
New York-based NGO focuses on three main
areas: interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue;
global health and wellness; and education. They
organized a concert for Pakistan at the United
Nations General Assembly Hall, New York on
September 12th ,2009 to increase awareness of
the 3 million internally displaced persons in
Pakistan.

Deeply concerned about healthcare and its availability to underprivileged
women and children, Dr. Ahmad subsequently opened and administered a
hospital in Karachi, the Al-Rehman Welfare Trust & Medical Center in
Karachi, Pakistan. With boundless energy, Dr. Ahmad hired and trained
competent staff, organized all functional areas of the clinic and facilitated
assessment, treatment and care for thousands of women and children who
might not have otherwise had ready access to such medical services. In
addition to the hospital, a school was also built to serve underprivileged
children.
As though her medical career wasn't enough to fill a busy day, Dr. Ahmad
concurrently developed a second career in scriptwriting, directing,
producing and hosting numerous highly popular television programs
targeted at healthcare, nutrition, family planning and social issues.
Comparable to a Martha Stewart of Pakistan, for many years, Dr. Ahmad
hosted television programs on healthful cooking, family issues and
nutrition.
SSGWI is working on two projects in Pakistan ,
the Model village project in Sajawal, Thatta
in Sind Pakistan, where they have adopted a
village Suleman Mallah and are building houses
for the flood affected villagers, this will be the
first model village of its kind and will provide
Holistic Health , education, vocational training,
playgrounds and solar energy to the villagers.
Through the SSGWI Womens Wellness
Initiative Samina has adopted a school in
Mansehra, Pakistan where she is providing
Academic and Holistic Health education to
local girls in order to empower them to raise
healthy families.

She has graduated as a Health Counselor and qualified for national

certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner by the American Association
of Drugless Practitioners. She has also received a certificate of completion
for educational outreach from the Teachers College of Columbia University.
Dr. Samina is a Chopra University certified Perfect Health Consultant and
Ayurveda coach and runs her Wellness Center called ''Samina's Wellness'' in
New York.

66
 M U K H T AR M AI
Activist

Mukhtaran Bibi now known as Mukhtar

Mai is a Pakistani woman from the village
of Meerwala, in the rural tehsil (county) of
Jatoi of the Muzaffargarh District of
Pakistan. In June 2002, Mukht r M was
the victim of a gang rape as a form of
honour revenge, on the orders of a
panchayat (tribal council) of the local
Mastoi Baloch clan that was richer and
more powerful as opposed to her Tatla clan
in that region.

Although custom would expect her to

commit suicide after being raped,
Mukhtaran spoke up, and pursued the
case, which was picked up by both
domestic and international media. On
September 1, 2002, an anti-terrorism
court sentenced 6 men (including the 4
rapists) to death for rape. In 2005, the
Lahore High Court cited insufficient
evidence and acquitted 5 of the 6
convicted, and commuted the punishment Her autobiography is She recieved the Fatima Jinnah gold medal
for the sixth man to a life sentence. for bravery and courage. Mukhtaran spoke
Mukhtaran and the government appealed the No. 3 best seller in at the United Nations headquarters in
this decision, and the Supreme Court New York.
suspended the acquittal and held appeal France and movies
hearings. In 2011, the Supreme Court too In an interview with United Nations TV,
acquitted the accused.
are being made about Mai said that she wanted to get the
message across to the world that one
Though the safety of Mukhtaran, and her
her. S he has been should fight for their rights and for the
family and friends, has been in jeopardy rights of the next generation. Mukhtarans
praised by dignitaries memoir was released in the United States
she remains an outspoken advocate for
as In the Name of Honor: A Memoir.
womens rights. She started the Mukhtar like Laura Bush and
Mai Womens Welfare Organization to help Mukhtaran formally received the 2006
support and educate Pakistani women and the French foreign North-South Prize of the Council of
girls. In April 2007, Mukhtar Mai won the Europe for her contribution to human
North-South Prize from the Council of minister. rights.In April 2007, Mukhtaran Mai won
Europe. In 2005, Glamour Magazine the North-South Prize from the Council
named her Woman of the Year. of Europe.In October 2010, Laurentian
According to the New York Times, Her University of Canada decided to award an
autobiography is the No. 3 best seller in honourary doctorate degree to
France , and movies are being made about Mukhtaran.
her. She has been praised by dignitaries like
Laura Bush and the French foreign
minister.

67
 N ASR E E N M AH M U D K ASU R I
Beaconhouse Schools

Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri, ne Nasreen

Monnoo, comes from a business
family. She is married with three
children. She has had her schooling at
the Convent of Jesus and Mary
Lahore, and Sacred Heart Convent
Faisalabad. She did her Bachelors in
Applied Psychology and History from
Kinnaird College Lahore. She
studied Child Psychology at the
postgraduate level at the Punjab
University. She has also done her
Master in Business Administration
(MBA) and holds a joint degree issued
by the Universities of NYU (USA),
LSE (UK), and HEC (France).

Mrs. Kasuri founded the Beaconhouse

Schools in 1975 which are the largest
and oldest private school system in
Pakistan, and perhaps one of the largest
system of its kind in the world. Today,
Beaconhouse Schools are located in
over 31 cities across Pakistan, and in 8
other countries including the UK,
Malaysia, Thailand, Oman, UAE,
Bangladesh, Indonesia and the
Philippines. Beaconhouse has a
combined student body exceeding
220,000 and a staff of over 18,900.
Beaconhouse schools prepare student
for the Cambridge O and A levels,
the International Baccalaureate and the
local Matriculation systems.
Beaconhouse is a progressive school (it
is an equal opportunity employer
though currently 62% of its employees
are women; it has a broad based
approach to education with a view to
producing global citizens).
Beaconhouse is also active in the
professional development and training
of its teachers, and was the first and the
Today, Beaconhouse only school in Pakistan which has its
own teacher-training programme in
S chools are located collaboration with the Bradford and
in over 31 cities Exeter Universities, UK.
across Pakistan,
For her philanthropic and humanit-
and in 8 other arian work Mrs Kasuri was awarded
countries including the Sitara-e-Eisaar by the
Government of Pakistan in 2006.
the UK , Malaysia,
Thailand, Oman, Mrs. Kasuri has traveled widely and
has attended many seminars and
UAE , Bangladesh,
courses on education and manage-
Indonesia and ment. She has served on the Boards
of many Government and Non-
the Philippines.
Government organisations, and is
currently serving as the Chairperson
of the Beaconhouse National
University, a University Chartered by
the Pakistan Government.

69
 N ASR E E N R E H M AN
Academic & writer
Born in Pakistan, Nasreen Rehman lives between England
and South Asia. She believes in challenging political
borders that separate people and countries, as well as the
disciplinary boundaries between the arts and academic
disciplines. She believes in the power of the arts and
dialogue to understand the human condition and
transform lives.
Nasreen is an award-winning screenplay writer who has
worked with the Canadian Deepa Mehta on the
screenplay and dialogue of Earth 1947, and wrote the
tele-films, Marhoom Colonel ki Betiyaan; Maya; Rehmat;
Jazba-e-Dil; Panchi and the serial Aur Zindagi Badalti Hai
for the Pakistani director Mehreen Jabbar. She co-wrote
with Aditya Chopra the screenplay and dialogue of the
director Yash Chopras Veer Zara.
She is Artistic Director of The Grand Trunk Road, a
performing arts and literature organisation, linking artists
and writers between Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and
Bangladesh. She serves on the Board of Akademi, the lead
organisation for South Asian dance, in the U.K.
70
Nasreen is Chair of British Muslims for Secular
Democracy, an organisation she co-founded
with the journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who
was its first Chair. She has served on the
Runnymede national commissions on anti-
Semitism and Islamophobia. She values her
association with NECE (Networking European
Citizenship Education).
Her intellectual debt to the great economist
Mahbubul Haq, who steered her towards
development, took her to Islamabad, to work
as the Director of his Human Development
Centre. She continues to work at the grassroots
with development projects in India and
Pakistan.
Her translation from Urdu into English of Kaifi
and I, the autobiography of Shaukat Kaifi was
published to critical acclaim in 2010. Her book
on M.S Sathyus film Garm Hava is due towards
the end of this year. Nasreens biography of,
Nur Jahan, Melody Queen will be published by
Penguin, India and Oxford University Press,
Pakistan, in 2013.
Nasreen has two daughters, Mariam Fazal
Faruqi, a lawyer, and Nasheed Qamar Faruqi, a
filmmaker and teacher.
 N ADIA JAM IL
Actor
Nadia Jamil is one of Pakistans leading television and stage
personalities, and is widely acclaimed as one of the most talented
and versatile actors of her generation.
Nadia was born in London on October 2, 1972. Her love for the
dramatic was evident from her early years. After moving to Pakistan
at the age of 9, Nadia continued to pursue her passion for drama at
the Convent of Jesus and Mary from where she completed her O
Levels in 1988. This love for the stage continued through Nadias A
Levels, including the title role in an Urdu adaptation of Sophocles
Antigone opposite renowned stage veteran Shoaib Hashmi. During
this time, Nadia also helped produce and direct, as well as starred
in, Pakistans first fully amateur production, Phantom of the Opera.
Nadia went on to complete her Bachelors in Liberal Arts from
Hampshire University, Amherst, Massachusetts, with a major in
Theatre and minors in Creative Writing and South Asian studies.
While at Hampshire, Nadia also became a student and mentee of
Dr Eqbal Ahmad, a renowned Pakistani scholar, author/journalist
and anti-war activist. Under Dr Ahmads tutelage, Nadia developed
a keen socio-political conscience, and found ways in which to use
her art as a tool for social change. After finishing her Bachelors in
1996, Nadia returned to Pakistan and took up acting in earnest. She
has since appeared in a number of stage and television productions,
including the critically acclaimed commercial hit Meray Pass Pass
(which was subsequently followed up with a sequel). She has also
seen much national and international acclaim for her roles in films
such as the short Beauty Parlour by Mehreen Jabbar, and Raat Chali
Hai Jhoom Kai, for which she was awarded the Best Supporting
Actress Ciepie at the 1st KaraFilm Festival.
72
In 2009, Nadia began hosting Jago Duniya (Wake up
World), the flagship morning show for Duniya TV, one
of Pakistans leading satellite channels. As the host of
Jago Duniya, Nadia highlighted a number of social,
economic and political issues, not hesitating to
comment on topics considered controversial in
Pakistan.
Following the incredible success of Jago Duniya, Nadia
was offered a position hosting Nai Rahain (New
Directions), the morning show for Samaa TV, a leading
news and opinion channel launched by JAAG
Broadcasting Systems (Pvt) Ltd owners of CNBC
Pakistan.
In addition to her role as an actor and TV anchor/host,
Nadia is also actively involved in a number of social
projects. Nadia is an active member of the Punjab
governments Youth Task Force and is also a member of
Zimmedar Shehri a youth organisation dedicated to
cleaning up the streets of Lahore. Nadia also
spearheaded a media campaign in collaboration with the
World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature to raise awareness of waste
management and its affect on the environment and local
wildlife and fauna. Nadia is also a patron of the Pakistan
Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PSRD)
and has used her show as a platform for promoting the
rights of disabled youth in Pakistan. She was responsible
for getting disabled youth involved in the Punjab
Governments Youth Task Force.
She has currently worked on a production of an Urdu
version of The Taming of the Shrew with the theatre
troupe, Theatre Walley-KASHF, which was performed
at the Globe Theatre in London as part of the run up to
the Olympic Games this summer. The Globe to Globe
initiative is an unprecedented multi-lingual programme
of all 38 of Shakespeares plays produced by
Shakespeares Globe theatre as part of the 2012
Cultural Olympiad and World Shakespeare Festival.
Over six weeks, every one of Shakespeares plays was
performed by a major company from a different
country in its own language. Starring Nadia Jamil and
Umair Rana and directed by Haissam Hussain, the
Taming of the Shrew was performed in Urdu on May
25th and 26th, 2012, at the Globe Theatre to a standing
ovation both nights.
 N AM IR A SALIM
Namira Salim, is a prominent designer and
adventurer based in the Principality of
Monaco. She is well renowned as the first
Pakistani and first potential South Asian
space tourist to go to space aboard Virgin
Galactic the worlds first private space-
line.
In March 2006, Sir Richard Branson,
Chairman Virgin Group, personally
introduced Namira to the world press as
one of the earliest founders of Virgin
Galactic. Subsequently, in August 2006,
the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan,
officially launched Namira as the First
Pakistani Astronaut earning her instant
celebrity status. In October 2007, she
qualified to go to space after successfully
completing her spaceflight training in the
US.
Namira holds an Ivy League Masters
degree in International Affairs from
Columbia University. Her tireless efforts
lead to the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Pakistan & Monaco in
2009. Subsequently, on 1st August 2011,
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, the
Sovereign Prince of Monaco accepted
Namira Salims nomination as the first
Honourary Consul of Pakistan to the
Principality of Monaco. In March 2012,
His Serene Highness, the Prince
inaugurated the Consulate of Pakistan in
the presence of the highest Monegasque
authorities.
As Pakistans Ambassador for Tourism and
during the International Polar Year, in April
2007, Namira became the first Pakistani to
reach the North Pole and in January 2008,
the first Pakistani at the South Pole, as well
as the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over
Mount Everest (third pole) in October
2008. At all three poles, she raised her
native flag, along with her universal peace
flag, Peace Making with Nation Souls
which was first unveiled during the United
Explorer & Artist
Nations General Assembly in May 2002.
Namira Salims daring adventures have
generated positive press for Pakistan
worldwide and made her a continuous
source of inspiration for women and
youth internationally. Based on her
exemplary achievements, on 23rd March
2011 Namira was conferred with a civil
decoration of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of
Excellence) by His Excellency Asif Ali
Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic
of Pakistan.
The philosophical foundation of her
creations rests in ASOULAFFAIR,
her private label of decorative arts from
Monaco which is regularly presented to
Heads of State and Royalty. Her
innovative art with built-in music and
messages in the actual voices of world
leaders have promoted peace and
goodwill at the SAARC Summit in
January 2004, the United Nations General
Assembl in May 2002 and during
UNESCOs Executive Board in October
2000. Namira also represented Pakistan
at UNESCOs OIC Day in Paris in
September 2011.
In 1993, she became the Founding
President of AIESEC (International
Association of Students in Economics and
Business Management) in Pakistan which
is the largest student run NGO of the
world. She trained as a student pilot in
1995 and is a PADI certified advanced
scuba diver.
Namira Salims daring spirit serves as a
paragon for peoples of all cultures and for
todays youth to reach for the stars.
71
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