On This Women’s Day, we give you three Pakistani women who ushered the nation into a new age, each in an eminent leadership position in Politics, the Military and in our Economy.
Why are we so scared to be led by women? After all, they are the ones who remain the centre point of our homes and lives. Without them, we wouldn’t even exist. Why can’t we trust them in leadership roles; as CEO’s, Presidents and Ministers and let them have a seat at the table? It’s not like they have not proved and fought their way for generations? But if we are so persistent on validating our arguments through hard facts, then let’s have a go at that too. There have been multiple research projects on how women are better leaders, score higher on leadership tests and are better at handling crises than men.
Did you know that, the University of Southern California found that men and women make similar decisions but under high stress, men might take riskier decisions causing negative impacts
There are a series of studies comparing women and men on the basis of them handling stress. Neuroscience has proved women tend to make better decisions under stress based on biology. Did you know that, the University of Southern California found that men and women make similar decisions but under high stress, men might take riskier decisions causing negative impacts.
Some even go so far to say if you’re great at your job, you will get it, true but let’s also acknowledge the barriers women have to face: social taboos, government/corporate policies, lack of access to equal education, information access because society keeps the women sheltered and obscure, discrimination by male counterparts and thus just mere acceptance for claiming work spaces that were, till now, only the domain of the opposite gender by and large.
Today, we owe it to all those women who have surged ahead despite the challenges – and these 3 women deserve our applause. From ushering Pakistan into a new age, each taking on a leadership position in Politics, the Military and in the Economic affairs of the country – they lead by example!
1. Sania Nishtar
While researching Sania, there weren’t just local forums covering her but major international forums and sites featuring her successes. A public health and development expert, Nishtar graduated from Khyber Medical University, winning 16 gold medals. Yes, you read that right! She worked as a top cardiologist locally and internationally, until she found Heartfile, a health policy voice and catalyst for health reforms in Pakistan.
She served the office of federal minister in 2013, setting up the country’s ministry of health. From 2018 – 2022, she served as special assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Federal Minister for the government’s Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety. Founder of the Ehsaas program which is Pakistan’s flagship social protection program. Sania has received not just awards at home also many international awards for her work, including the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the European Societies Population Science Award and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Global Innovation Award. In 2020, Sania was listed in the BBC’s 100 Women.
2. Nigar Johar
Portrayed in the widely watched telefilm starring Mahira Khan alongside Bilal Ashraf on her journey of rising in the ranks in the Pakistan army. Eyes welled up with tears on witnessing the story of this woman rising through such trials and tribulations of her life to a position so far unclaimed by any woman in Pakistan. Let that hit you: Pakistan army’s first three-star woman officer, Lieutenant General Nigar Johar first female general appointed as the colonel commandment of Army Medical Corps.
“Women need to be decision-makers; they need to be policymakers. It is important for women to be in these roles, as only that will lead to a shift in the mindset and the culture. Men alone cannot be making decisions for women.”
General Nigar Johar
Lt Gen Johar is a graduate of the Army Medical College with an MCPS degree in family medicine, MSc in advanced medical administration plus a master’s in public health. A first for our century, our generation to see a female rise to such heights in a military career. Being the first female military officer to command an army hospital heading CMH Jhelum as a brigadier, she later also headed the Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
Recipient of the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal for her incredulous services in Army Medical Corps from the prime minister of Pakistan. She also received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz earlier this year and headed the CO-VID 19 ward at the AMC. She ardently spoke about women being in leadership positions, “Women need to be decision-makers; they need to be policymakers. It is important for women to be in these roles, as only that will lead to a shift in the mindset and the culture. Men alone cannot be making decisions for women.”
3. Roshaneh Zafar
Roshaneh has been predominantly working in the development sector, having contributed to economic development for women since over 25 years. She is the founder and managing director of Kashf Foundation, Pakistan’s first Microfinance institution for women micro-entrepreneurs. She has vast experience working with the World Bank, as a member of the prime minister’s taskforce on Austerity and Federal Government. With a graduate degree from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, USA and a master’s degree in development economics from Yale University, USA, Roshaneh can take on anything and everything she sets her heart to.
“My grandmother once told me that doing something for the women of Pakistan was the best thing I could ever do for the country!”
Roshaneh Zafar
Sharing her inspiration from her grandmother, she has said: “My grandmother believed that women should pursue independent careers encouraging the girls in the family to pursue academic careers and work. She had a great influence on who we are. She once told me that doing something for the women of Pakistan was the best thing I could ever do for the country!” Ms. Zafar has been awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest awards for efforts in empowering women from low-income households.
After all the first female prime minister in the world was our very own, Benazir Bhutto. We carry this hope from our past into the future for shattering glass ceilings all over again and encouraging more women to take charge. Things amidst us might be improving at many levels but the doubt around female leadership capabilities still exists and we end this tribute to three formidable Pakistani women with a wish for that doubt to fade away.
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Listen into Roshaneh zafar of Kashf Foundation here
