Honoring Her Legacy: Begum Rana Liaqat Ali’s 150th Birth Anniversary
On the 13th of February, APWA commemorated the efforts of its founder at her 150th birth anniversary. Our team members visited Mazar-e-Quaid, her resting place, to offer prayers for her on this day. A collective dua was offered and then flowers were placed at her coffin. We spoke of her legacy of leadership, remembering how she laid the foundations of progress amidst the chaos of a new country.
Begum Rana was not only the first First Lady of Pakistan but also the first female Governor - leading the way to empowerment through action. During the Pakistan Movement, she urged the army to train women to give injections and recruit them as nurses. She then gathered all her partners and founded the All Pakistan Women’s Association which aimed to protect the social, economic, and physical status of women. From its inception, this organization was been run by volunteers under her guidance. Through this initiative, Begum Rana established numerous schools, vocational, and health centers. She truly left a lasting mark as her legacy continues to support and uplift many women in society.
As we celebrated her birth anniversary at Mazar-e-Quaid this year, we vowed to make sure her initiatives reach every corner of Pakistan and that every woman in the country feels strong and independent. With every school that we establish, we aim to increase Pakistan’s literacy rate. With every skill center that we set up, we aim to make every woman here financially stable. With every health center that we establish, we aim to make each woman feel that they have equal rights to everything this country has to offer. We will continue on this road, laid down by our founder until each woman in Pakistan is given the opportunities she deserves to thrive.