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These tough women show the world the 'soft' side of Pakistan

These tough women show the world the 'soft' side of Pakistan

Pakistan has boasted trendy, dedicated female figureheads throughout its history
13 Nov, 2015

Spiraling through history, we’ve always boasted trendy, dedicated female figureheads; a Fatima Jinnah wielding political strategy in a crisp shalwar kameez or a Begum Liaquat Ali Khan resplendent in a traditional gharara while talking war strategies and meeting dignitaries.

Fatima Jinnah and Begum Liaquat Ali Khan (far right)
Fatima Jinnah and Begum Liaquat Ali Khan (far right)

Benazir Bhutto, the country’s first and only female prime minister cut a well-groomed figure and only recently, Maryam Nawaz spoke on the importance of women’s education in Washington, epitomising the Pakistani woman in an embroidered Maria B jora.

Benazir Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz
Benazir Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz

Moving away from politics and zoning in on the arts, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is currently winning international accolades for her latest venture, eloquently titled Song of Lahore.

And how can we forget Sharmeen bringing home an Oscar back in 2012, winning in the Best Documentary, Short Subject category? She had worn a bespoke design by Bunto Kazmi and a KFJ gold cuff with a dangling diamond-encrusted Pakistan flag on her wrist and earrings by Sheherzad Rahimtoola.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the Oscars 2012
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the Oscars 2012

More than her designer wear, though, it had been her acceptance speech that had Pakistan cheering and the world taking notice: “All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you.”

From Malala Yousufzai to Bilquis Edhi, Maleeha Lodhi to Sheema Kirmani (and even Burka Avenger), an increasing number of Pakistani women are breaking away from traditional shackles and highlighting what is important to themselves or to their country. The fairer sex, certainly; but hardly the weaker.

Another case in point is Rabiya Javeri Agha who as Secretary to the Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) has lead quite a few delegations and organised Pakistani trade exhibits abroad.

Rabiya Javeri receives a token of appreciation at FPW A/W14
Rabiya Javeri receives a token of appreciation at FPW A/W14

Last year, she spearheaded the Aalishan Pakistan trade fair in Delhi and recently she was instrumental in leading a mostly-women delegation to the Ghent Fair in Belgium.

A ‘Pakistan Pavilion’ at the nine-day fair manifested the best of Pakistan in technicolor glory; traversing indigenous ajraks, tapestries, artwork and designer wear, alongside export mainstays like leather, marble, handicrafts and carpets.

Nilofer Farrukh curated the art segment which featured the work of Masuma Halai and Meher Afroz. Taking center stage was a quintessentially vibrant phool-patti embellished rickshaw where visitors could take photographs and which was later gifted to the Mayor of Ghent.

“In Ghent, every single person, artist, performer or organiser, came forward pro bono, propelled simply by the desire to showcase Pakistan at its best," explains Rabiya.

She continued, "Sadly, perceptions about our country are warped and this, in turn, affects both our GSP-plus status and our export contracts. If people do not like you, they simply won’t do business with you. We needed to show the visitors the many facets that defined Pakistan; its products, art, music and most of all, the power and capability of its youth."

"Nobody there could have imagined that Pakistani women are Academy Award winners, international sprinters or even mountain climbers,” she concluded emphatically.


The present-day Pakistani woman is something of an anomaly to the world at large. Shrugging away preconceived notions of a war-torn, extremism-ridden country, she stalks onto the international arena and makes important statements. She’s confident, educated and hardly the Taliban-ised assassin that the West had imagined her to be … unless looks could kill. And oh, most of our representatives in the international world also have fabulous wardrobes!


From a global viewpoint, such events may be mere drops in the ocean but bit by bit, they are building an image of a progressive-minded Pakistan. And more often than not, the building blocks are being laid by women.

A significant torch-bearer has been PR maven Frieha Altaf. Earlier this year, she was invited to Mauritius as a guest speaker at the Destination Wedding Planner (DWP) Congress in 2015. She also represents Pakistan at the annual Masala! Awards in the UAE and orchestrates occasional events abroad.

“I try my best to eliminate the negativity surrounding Pakistan,” she says. “It changes people’s perception when designers like Sana Safinaz win ‘International designer of the Year’ at the Masala! Awards, as they did in 2012, or when I speak on work ethics at a prestigious platform like the DWP Congress."

"They see me and get taken aback because they can relate to me. Many of them don’t expect a woman from Pakistan to be quite so contemporary in appearance and outlook. But every time a Pakistani — whether male or female — makes inroads, internationally, it helps build the country’s image,” she shares.

Frieha Altaf at this year's Masala! Awards held last week
Frieha Altaf at this year's Masala! Awards held last week

One of these image-builders is certainly actress Mahira Khan — beautiful, with a predilection for gorgeous designer wear while making umpteen red carpet appearances abroad and awaiting the release of her much-awaited Bollywood debut opposite Shahrukh Khan next year. “People get pleasantly surprised when they discover my nationality,” she relates.

“It’s good to shatter the images they have construed. I like it when I am posed with challenging questions or even some very ignorant questions.”

Mahira Khan at the Lux Style Awards 2015
Mahira Khan at the Lux Style Awards 2015

Designer Maheen Khan, boasting a career where she has repetitively built her business through participation in international fairs and shows, mulls over the ignorance people often harbor regarding Pakistan.

“I am asked ‘How could you be from Pakistan?’” she says, “and I am happy to tell them about the many dimensions that define my country. At the same time, I find their ignorance bordering on arrogance — they don’t know about my country because they haven’t bothered to know about it."

"The world’s a global village and well-travelled, well-read people are generally aware of Pakistan’s burgeoning fashion fraternity and cultural strengths. The rest, hopefully, will get better informed with time.”

Maheen Khan - Photo by A. Bilgrami
Maheen Khan - Photo by A. Bilgrami

It’s a constant battle that Pakistan’s veritable warriors fight, charging over a landscape mired with political conflict and violence and helping their country’s image to rise above the ashes.

A Sania Maskatiya does it by being part of the internationally acclaimed Lakme Fashion Week last year, following it up with the Vogue Wedding Show in India this year and getting nominated twice in a row for the prestigious fashion-centric international Woolmark Prize.

A Syeda Amera does it when she gets featured as a designer within the esteemed pages of British Vogue. A Nilofer Shahid does it when her work is displayed at the Royal Albert Hall in UK. A Maria B. does it when she cashes in on her lawn designing prowess by extending feelers into India

A Kamila Shamsie does it when she churns out her bestsellers and a Kiran Aman does it when she publishes books that go on to win awards at internationally acclaimed festivals.

It may be called a man’s world and to be fair, Pakistan also boasts a milieu of extraordinary men, making it proud. But glance beyond the testosterone and you may spy the many women steering this world forward, with resolute iron fists, albeit hidden in velveteen gloves.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 8th, 2015

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Comments

Just here Nov 13, 2015 10:35am
I see hope for Pakistan after reading this and seeing these brave Pakistani women.
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manzoor Nov 13, 2015 10:35am
really an honor and a source of pride for the Pakistani nation ...these females are presenting the real picture of Pakistan throughout the world....really feel proud of them
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rehan Nov 13, 2015 11:44am
These are the "tough" ones ?
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Calypso Nov 13, 2015 01:05pm
Ms. Chinoy, I salute your courage and your wisdom: "All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you." Let me add ..."this is for Pakistan". I dream of Pakistan, where women are Academy Award winners, international sprinters or mountain climbers and no one wonders about it. How long can a country stumble on one leg and blocking permanently the other (stronger) leg?
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haque khan Nov 13, 2015 05:12pm
Brilliant ladies................
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AXH Nov 13, 2015 07:52pm
These ladies indeed represent the side of Pakistan that the West does not see very often. Please carry on all the good work to let the world know what Pakistan is truly about.
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B. Sridhar Nov 13, 2015 10:19pm
How can your list be complete without Fatima Bhutto - a young, articulate and intelligent ambassador?
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LALA Nov 13, 2015 11:40pm
@rehan ; Yes Excluding You!
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Rishabh Jain Nov 14, 2015 12:20am
What about Malala, Asma Jehangir, Fatima Bhutto and Sabeen Mehmood?
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Haroon and Farah Nov 14, 2015 03:43am
Maria B zindabad!
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Shahid Akbar, Long Island, New York Nov 14, 2015 05:04am
A powerful message to the world: Pakistani women are very pretty and brave without a ny fear from the conservatives,
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Tamza Nov 14, 2015 07:08am
@rehan The 'tough ones' are actually the ones who work in the fields and bring home the bread. These women have been born with the proverbial silver spoon and could not survive one second in the 'real world'. Lets be real. Sorry.
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Shahid Akbar, Long Island, New York Nov 14, 2015 08:41pm
@Tamza I respect your opinion but hate to disagree to your comments. Tamza, please explain to me and others why won't these women survive when and if put into tough situations.
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Jay Nov 15, 2015 04:08pm
It will always be Mahira for me. She is the greatest Pakistani EVER !!
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