The eighth year!
We all know that Ladiesfund, established in 2007, is an initiative of Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) that supports and empowers Pakistani women entrepreneurs. Throughout the year, the foundation organises various events and activities to honour the hard work of deserving women. Like every year, this time around the DGF held its 8th Ladiesfund(r) Women’s Awards for Pakistan 2016 at Sindh Governor House.
A very emotional moment in the ceremony was the posthumous remembrances of 2008 Ladiesfund winner Sabeen Mahmud and 2012 Lifetime Achievement Winner Fatima Surayya Bajia, given by Mahmud’s mother Mehnaz Mahmud and Bajia’s sister Zubeida Tariq respectively.
At the event, Chief Guest Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, said, “The Ladiesfund network of women and youth is an important one in Pakistan. The government is always pleased to support and help them to empower and educate the women of Pakistan.”
Around five hundred of the most dynamic and inspiring women in Pakistan were in attendance including Ronak Lakhani; Lal Majid; Azra Mohyeddin; Masarrat Misbah; Rabiya Zuberi; Syeda Sarwat Gilani; Shafaq Habib, Yasmeen Lari; Nilofer Saeed; Zeenat S. Ahmed; Amin Gulgee and Huma Adnan.
Also, present were Swiss Consul General Emil Wyss and his wife Arie, French Consul General Francois D’all Orzo, Bangladeshi Consul General Noor-e-Helal Rehman and his wife, Indonesian Consul General Hadi Santoso and his wife, Russian Vice Consul, US Vice Consul Angela Wyse and Martin Lindblad.
Now coming to the award winners. The 2016 Trailblazer, Momentum and Woman of the Year Award Winners - People’s Choice - were Humaira Bachal, Simi Kamal and Farieha Aziz respectively. Bachal has built a Dream School for underprivileged children, Kamal is working on water, environment and women development, and Aziz led the campaign to end internet censorship and bring YouTube back to Pakistan.
The Pioneer Award went to Nigar Ahmad (Aurat Foundation), the Angel Award to Dr. Seemin Jamali (Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre) and Idol Award to Champa (village woman who has spearheaded the building of 28,000 fuel efficient stoves).
The Commendation Awards for Art went to Fatima Sabeekah, Mehreen Hashmi and Samra Roohi, for Medicine to Dr. Mahnaz Naveed Shah, Dr. Rufina Soomro and Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, and for Fashion to Aamna Aqeel, Sofia Naveed Lari and Umaima Mustafa. The 2016 Ladiesfund Women of Inspiration were Ayesha Khan, Moneeza Butt, Masarrat Misbah, Ronak Lakhani, Sania Maskatiya, Syeda Sarwat Gilani, Spenta Kandawalla, Zeba Bakhtiar, Zeba Hussain and Shafaq Habib.
The International Fellowship awards went to Naina Rani, the Image Skincare Bachelors to Iqra to Maria Jawed, the Eminence Organics Bachelors to Iqra to Marium Hashmi, the Nargis Soorty Musical Scholarship to Alycia Dias (renewed), the WEN Scholarship for Bachelors Iqra to Yamna Babar (renewed), and the Zein Obagi Scholarship for Bachelors AIFD Iqra to Yusra Tufail (renewed). Maliha Bhimjee and Jaweria Ali presented the Educate a Girl vocational scholarships to the Governor Sindh’s staff’s children as well as blind and handicapped girls.
The venue, done up in an elegant pink and white theme, featured theatre seating and a magenta pink carpet. There were over 2600 bite-sized dessert pieces at the Pinkalicious Dessert Bar and featuring the signature treats of leading female-owned patisseries and bakeries throughout the Sindh region, including Al Bakery, Hobnob Group, Raeesa’s Cakes, Sam’s Cake Factory, Sugaries, Zoya Marri’s Designer Desserts, For Your Palate. There were also delectable savouries from Aunty Jee’s Designer Chaat and The Food Hive.
All in all it was quite a successful event!
