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Mahira Khan, Sania Nishtar featured on BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women for 2020

Mahira Khan, Sania Nishtar featured on BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women for 2020

This year, 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times.
24 Nov, 2020

The BBC has revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020 and representing Pakistan on the list are actor Mahira Khan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Sania Nishtar.

This year, 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times.

Sania has been featured under the knowledge category and Mahira under creative.

Reacting to the news, Sania said she was "truly honoured to be on the list of BBC 100 women who have made a difference in 2020!"

Mahira and Sania are in the stellar company of 98 other accomplished women, including Sanna Marin, who leads Finland's all-female coalition government; Michelle Yeoh, star of the new Avatar and Marvel films; Sarah Gilbert, who heads the Oxford University research into a coronavirus vaccine; and Jane Fonda, a climate activist and actress.

Also featured on the list are Bilkis from India who, at 82, was part of a group of women who peacefully protested against a controversial citizenship law; and Syrian plant virologist Safaa Kumari, who after discovering seeds that could safeguard food security in Syria, risked her life to rescue them from Aleppo.

Afghanistan's Laleh Osmany, the activist who started the WhereIsMyName campaign, is also featured. This year, after a three-year fight, the Afghan government agreed to record women's names on national ID cards and their children's birth certificates.

Read: 'Where Is My Name?': Afghan campaign to include mothers' names on ID cards stirs heated debate

One name on the 100 Women list has been left blank as a tribute "in an extraordinary year when countless women around the world have made sacrifices to help others".

"Though BBC 100 Women cannot name every woman across the globe who has made a contribution, this space is designed to allow you to think of the people who have had an impact on you, over the course of 2020."

See the full list here.

Comments

Rashid Saeed Nov 24, 2020 07:23pm
So much respect to Ms. Sania Nishter for makin innumerable contributions for the poor and needy. She is the real inspiration for all the feminist to be.
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Ishant Nov 24, 2020 07:24pm
Definitely Sania and Mahira are influencial women, but BBC is a biased media.
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Adnan Mahmood Nov 24, 2020 07:26pm
Sania Nishtar is a hero of our nation. Wish we had more of them.
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bhaRAT© Nov 24, 2020 07:36pm
Congratulation to inspiring and influential women. Good to know 82-year-old Bilkis who was part of a group of women who peacefully protested against the discriminatory citizenship law is in the list too - the voice of the marginalised.
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Salman Nov 24, 2020 07:48pm
Sania Nishtar and Mahira Khan we'are proud of you. Both are well deserved for excellence in their respective fields. Specially Sania has really made a big impact with Ehsas with her untiring work.
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Marquis de Sade Nov 24, 2020 07:50pm
Bilkis protested peacefully for ₹. 500 per day and biryani, and inconenienced millions of people for months on end by being part on an illegal sit-in.
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BrownFlower Nov 24, 2020 07:59pm
They missed Maryam Nawaz who is currently the most popular woman in the country.
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Avi Nov 24, 2020 08:01pm
India got 4 of their women in the list. Kudos to them too.
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SAYED JEHAN Nov 24, 2020 08:16pm
@BrownFlower Really?
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Amer Nov 24, 2020 08:20pm
Kudos.
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Farhan Nov 24, 2020 08:22pm
Sania nishthar is a creative woman and perform her job honestly....but mahira khan I don't think so.... She is not a creative not achievable any thing.... Only actor.... I think it is not influencial woman.....
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Zak Nov 24, 2020 08:32pm
Pakistani talent is superb. Salute to both these ladies. One PTI minister the other an international model.
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Captain Nov 24, 2020 09:03pm
Sania is ok but why Mahira and what for ?
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SHEIKH SAEED OMER Nov 24, 2020 09:03pm
@Avi one out of every 350 million Indians
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Chrís Dăn Nov 24, 2020 09:21pm
I like both ladies. Congratulations.
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Drone Nov 24, 2020 09:28pm
Maryam Nawaz should have been in the list.
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Chrís Dăn Nov 24, 2020 10:01pm
@BrownFlower the list chooses ladies with their own achievements only.
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Chrís Dăn Nov 24, 2020 10:02pm
@Drone for telling lies and fooling the country!!!
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Hafeez Nov 24, 2020 10:07pm
Great news for Pakistan and Sania Nishter... Congrat.
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Ukasha Rajpoot Nov 24, 2020 11:07pm
Beautiful woman is the best inspiration for the whole world.
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Dr.Sadaf Nov 24, 2020 11:25pm
@Farhan , agree completely.
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Zaraq Nov 25, 2020 12:05am
How is mahira inspiring and influential? There is no comparison between the two. One is making a real difference in society what is the other doing by just acting ?
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Dr. Malhi Nov 25, 2020 12:10am
I have utmost respect for Dr. Sania Nishtar. She truely is someone worth a praise.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 25, 2020 12:27am
Welcome to the unique club and the distinguished clubhouse. As always, keep it up and hang on tough.
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Ali Mehdi Nov 25, 2020 01:12am
Ms Nishtar deserves this recognition.
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M. Emad Nov 25, 2020 01:29am
'Inspiring and Influential Women' !?!?!
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Ismail Nov 25, 2020 01:42am
PM IK got the best person and great human being in the name of Sania Nishtar.
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Waheed Nov 25, 2020 02:10am
Everyone has their agenda and it says a lot about by the choices that you make and the actions that you support. Truth and decency and moral values are constant denominators for a society that is inclusive and just . We appear to be supporting our base instincts. Sania Nishtar May be a reasonable choice but I am not too sure about Marita Khan who is a good actress and that’s all!
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bhaRAT© Nov 25, 2020 02:19am
@BrownFlower In GB polls Maryam Nawaz popularity was just 3% - lowest of all leaders!
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AZAM AKBAR Nov 25, 2020 05:12am
Congratulations.
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Mike Nov 25, 2020 06:23am
Mahira Khan??? Just by showing face and body full of makeup ??? Is that inspiring ???
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N abidai Nov 25, 2020 08:06am
Both women, sania and Mahira are very elegant women, in the sense they do their job, and take up social causes and elegant communicate to the public why changed is needed!
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Mashiqkhan Nov 25, 2020 08:26am
Women are better financial managers.
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Venkat Nov 25, 2020 08:58am
If men cannot improve good understanding with neighbours ..let the women do..
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Chrís Dăn Nov 25, 2020 11:47am
@Captain Pakistan is a n unfortunate country where people do nt respect their artists who take other social initiatuves. Ms.Khan worked/works actively against sexual violence . Further she was the one who initially gave idea that women in country do nt need fair skin to win the heart of men as women are nt just dolls& that women have their personality based upon character only. This is a very bold initiative in a conservative country like Pakistan.Give her this credit. She raises her voice where men like you live.
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Batool Nasir Nov 25, 2020 01:35pm
@Farhan Indeed Sania Nishtar is most deserving.
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Mahesh Nov 25, 2020 02:44pm
With all due respect to Dr. Sania and Mahira the fact is nobody outside of Pakistan even know them. Atleast Mahira is known due to Bollywood.
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viney mehra Nov 25, 2020 03:18pm
@Adnan Mahmood Both ladies are deserving
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AZAM AKBAR Nov 26, 2020 07:34pm
Congratulations. Both are well know personalities. Pride of the nation and country.
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