ISLAMABAD: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday revealed its list of ‘100 Women 2024’ which featured inspiring and influential women from around the world.
This year’s prestigious list includes two Pakistan women — Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch and singer-cum-philanthropist Hadiqa Kiani — for their inspiring journey and their resilience to push for change.
Among the others honoured by the BBC are stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, actress Sharon Stone, Olympic athletes Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Raye, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, visual artist Tracey Emin, climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu and many more.
“From facing deadly conflicts and humanitarian crises in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan, to witnessing the polarisation in societies that followed a record number of elections around the world, women have had to dig deep and find new levels of resilience,” the British publication wrote.
Mahrang Baloch, a medical doctor and political activist, made highlights after leading mass women-led demonstrations across Pakistan against alleged enforced disappearances in Balochistan province.
“Her call for justice comes after her father was allegedly taken by security service officers in 2009 and found dead two years later with signs of torture,” the BBC report said.
In late 2023, Baloch led hundreds of women on a 1,000 mile (1,600km) march to the capital Islamabad to demand information on the whereabouts of their family members. She was arrested twice during the journey.
The medical doctor has since then become a prominent activist, under the banner of her own human rights group Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). In addition to that, her work in the field of human rights was recognised in the ‘TIME100 Next 2024’ list of emerging leaders.
On the other hand, Hadiqa Kiani, Pakistan’s musical icon, made it to the ‘100 Women of 2024’ list for her versatile voice and contributions to humanitarian causes. Kiani became a celebrated force in the South Asian female pop music scene after her rise in the 1990s.
She also serves as a United Nations Development Programme goodwill ambassador as her contribution to the humanitarian cause is known to everyone.
Hadiqa, in response to the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan, launched her Vaseela-e-Raah project, dedicated to aiding victims in the regions of Balochistan and South Punjab. “She urged the public to assist displaced families and last year, the project announced it had built 370 homes and other facilities in the affected areas,” the publication wrote.
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