8th of March, celebrates the power and strength of females all around the world. The date marks celebration of womanhood, of motherhood, sisters, wives, entrepreneurs, speakers, runners, atheletes and just about every role a woman exists in. And with the same thought in mind, Oye Yeah pays its tribute to the women of substance of our country. Women, who make us proud to belong to the same kind.
Here are a few of those Pakistani women, we admire for being themselves. They make us look up to them for inspiration, for motivation and at times, just for life.
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak
@runway_pk Thank You For publishing this So today I been getting messages that what I have to say or what I think about This particular woman’s day. I’m not only a daughter but a wife too and I have grown in many ways since past year. Bear with my poor grammar just stick to the basic context So! I wokeup to social media bombarding my newsfeed about Woman’s day, Women being empowered, all campaigns cashing out this day as usual, I realized woman empowerment is a trend now more than a movement or a fight. Past year was sad for ME. I saw my brilliant 4GPA scored graduated girlfriends getting married. As I always say getting married is beautiful and it’s right as long as it makes you happy. But getting married for the sake of getting married, you’ll grow old, your parents think you won’t find someone later, you’ll turn ugly, or achay rishtay haath say nikal jain gay IS NOT RIGHT. I have seen such brilliant minds in the kitchen preparing breakfast and cleaning their new born. I just want to tell every girl out there , achay rishtay haath say nahi jain gay, Abu nahi allow kartay job k liay tu fight for your right with your Abu , when you’ll do great in your life your Abu will be proud of you. And after getting married if you want to pursue a job then go for it, you took a degree to empower yourself not for a good rishta. I want to tell this to everybody out there very clearly MY DAD DIDN’T SUPPORT ME TO MODEL, HE NEVER WANTED ME TO LEAVE STUDIES AND PURSUE MY DREAMS, HE DIDN’T TALK TO ME FOR WEEKS, I STILL REMEMBER VERY LONG INTERNATIONAL CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES FROM HIM. MY MOTHER STOPPED SERVING ME WITH FOOD. I LOST ALL MY FRIENDS THE ONLY THING KEPT ME GOING WAS I’LL MAKE IT BIG ONE DAY. MY DAD THOUGHT NO ONE WILL MARRY ME BECAUSE MODELS GOT NO RESPECT AND THIS JOB AIN’T ACCEPTABLE IN OUR SOCIETY. Today here I’m happily married, won two biggest awards, my dad is the proudest dad, my mother in law doesn’t want me to make Gol Roti but to bring as many awards possible. My husband wants me empowered and both the mothers serve me with the best food. (DON’T LET ANYONE CHOOSE YOUR LIFE FOR YOU, YOU WERE BORN ALONE, YOU NEED TO RULE ALONE TOO)
A post shared by Saheefa Jabbar Khattak (@saheefajabbarkhattak) on Mar 8, 2018 at 1:52am PST
She’s strong, she’s young and she’s a bold game changer. Saheefa comes from a Pathan background and her values are strong! She speaks with a mind of her own and often speaks the truth. Harsh or bitter, Saheefa knows what she needs to say and when. Recently, Saheefa has set true trends owing to not only her openness about her beliefs but also her extraordinary gesture of auctioning her bridal dress for those in need.
Mahira Khan
Mahira believes we’re all worth it and that makes her a true icon in our eyes. Recently, Mahira Khan was appointed as the first Pakistani Brand Ambassador for L’Oreal. Mahira with her resolute strength, her convictions and her struggle has been a true icon and an inspiration. She’s not only an accomplished actress but a wonderful mom, a wonder woman in its truest essence.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, a name who needs no introduction. Chinoy is an inspiration in its purest form. Sharmeen with her two Academy Awards and 6 Emmys is an example of women who aimed for the stars and got handfuls for themselves with sheer persistence and hard work.
Nadia Khan
Nadia Khan another accomplished actress and host of our entertainment industry. She is known for her morning show and strong persona. She is a Youtuber, Vlogger, presenter, actress and producer. Referred to as the Oprah Winfrey of Pakistan, Nadia has not hesitated to put television, her platform, to shed lights on issues related to women and their empowerment. Currently starring in Zun Mureed, Khan has boldly shunned stigmas and returned to screen to make a responsible statement.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is one of the youngest Pakistani activist for female education and also the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Malala is known for her struggles in human rights advocacy, especially the education of girls in her native Swat Valley where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending schools. She was shot for attending school but she never gave up and instead rose up from the ashes like a phoenix.
Muniba Mazari
The Iron Woman of Pakistan, Muniba Mazari is one woman of substance who didn’t let her disability govern her fate. Muniba, beautifully accomplished what she always wanted in life, cementing the fact that a woman, not matter if bound to a wheelchair, can achieve anything she sets her mind to!
Samina Baig
Samina Khayal Baig is another strong woman, she is a Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest in 2013 and then headed to the Seven Summits by 2014. She is the first and only Pakistani woman to climb Everest and the Seven Summits, the only Muslim woman, to accomplish such a feat at the age of 21.
Asma Jahangir
The true moral compass of Pakistan, Jahangir was an inspiration for all those lost and looking for a way forward. Asma might have left us in mourning, but her work and her fight for human rights will continue to live on and carry forward her legacy!
