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Top 10 Most Famous Pakistani Women

Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, this South Asian country is the fifth most populated country in the world. The population stands at about 243 million people. It is the second-largest Muslim population in the world and comes second after Indonesia.

This is the only country to be created in the name of Islam. The idea was greatly welcomed by Indian Muslims who were a minority in the areas such as the United Provinces. The Bengali Muslims of East Pakistan however strongly opposed Islamist ideologies. The East Pakistanis focused on ethnic identity and preferred secularism. The West Pakistanis on the other hand preferred to have an Islam identity.

Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamist party believed Bengali nationalism was unacceptable. They considered Pakistani an Islamic State. The Jamaat-e-Islami fought the Bengali nationalists in the 1971 conflict over East Pakistan. The conflict ended with East Pakistan seceding, leading to Bangladesh’s creation.

Read on for information on ten amazing Pakistani women.

1. In modern history, Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to lead a Muslim nation

In 1994 image of Benazir Bhutto. She was the 11th and 13th Prime Minister of Pakistan. Photo by Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain/

Born on June 21, 1953, Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to lead a Muslim nation. Bhutto who was a Pakistani politician studied at Havard and Oxford Universities. After the execution of Bhutto’s father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in 1979 she led a political opposition. This was against President Zia-ul-Haq.

Bhutto faced house arrest from 1979 to 1984 and was exiled from 1984 to 1986. In 1988, President Zia died in a plane crash. Bhutto then became the prime minister of a coalition government.

Her government was dismissed in 1990. This was after an unsuccessful attempt to rid the country of governmental corruption, increasing crime and widespread poverty. She was elected into the office once again from 1993 to 1996.

Bhutto was convicted of taking bribes from a Swiss company in 1999. She was sentenced to five years in prison, in absentia. He was granted amnesty in October 2007 and she returned to Pakistan. On 27 December 2007, she was killed during an elections campaign.

2. Malala Yousafzai is the World’s Youngest Nobel Prize Laureate

In 2012, Malala Yousafzai was shot for her activism work. Photo by Southbank Centre/

Born on July 12 1997, Malala Yousafzai is a Women’s Rights Activist. At the age of 17 years, she was the World’s Youngest Nobel Prize Laureate. She was named three times in Time 100.

Yousafzai faced an assassination attempt by Islamic fundamentalists. This did not stop her from being an education activist. She inspires girls around the world and has a best-selling memoir to her name.

3. Bushra Maneka is Pakistan’s current First Lady

Born on August 6 1968, Bushra Maneka is known as Bushra Bibi. She is Imran Khan’s wife and Pakistan’s current First Lady. Maneka supports her husband’s vision for Pakistan. She is however inactive in political matters.

4. Mahira Khan is one of Pakistan’s highest-paid actresses

Mahira Khan at the 2017 Masala Awards. Photo by Bollywood Hungama/

Born on December 21 1982, Mahira Khan’s career began as a VJ with MTV. She is one of Pakistan’s highest-paid actresses and is popularly known for her award-winning performances. She has appeared in the film Raees and the drama Humsafar. In 2010, Khan was on BBC’s 100 Women.

5. Sana Mir’s name is synonymous with Pakistani cricket

Image of Sana Mir. Photo by Pakistan Womens Cricket Team/

For many years, Sana Mir’s name has been synonymous with the work of cricket in Pakistan. For the young Pakistan woman, she has been a source of inspiration for the cricketers. In 2018, Mir took the top position in the ODI ranking.

Since her debut in 2005, Mir has played 226 international cricket matches. Out of these, she was captain during 137 matches. She is among only nine women who have taken 100 ODI wickets. Mir is also among only five women who have scored 1,000 runs in ODI matches.

By the time Mir retired at the age of 34, she was ranked ninth among the bowlers. She was also the most successful spinner. at the time.

6. Muniba Mazari is a UN Goodwill Ambassador, an artist, activist and motivational speaker

Muniba Mazari is a role model to many people. She is Pakistan’s first UN Goodwill Ambassador to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Mazari is a motivational speaker, activist, artist, writer and singer.

Mazari was involved in a car accident when she was 21 years old. The accident left her paralysed and in a wheelchair. The extreme pain from the accident gave her the strength to connect with others who were also in pain.

Known as the iron woman of Pakistan, the experience made Mazari an activist. She raises awareness of child abuse, and child violence and supports the education of children. She also encourages women and girls who have been victims of violence or discrimination.

7. Yasmeen Lari, the first female architect in Pakistan began her career in the 1990s

Pakistani architect, Yasmeen Lari. Photo by BBC News/

Yasmeen Lari is the first female architect in Pakistan. He began her career in the early 1900s. Some of the buildings she built include the popular Taj Mahal Hotel, the Pakistan State Oil House and the Finance and Trade Centre.

In 2005, an earthquake destroyed buildings in Pakistan and killed about 80,000 people. The aftermath left 400,000 families without homes. This catastrophe completely changed Lari’s life and career. She began providing homes to the less fortunate members of society.

Using renewable resources, Lari created a low-cost, carbon-free structure technique. This made her one of the most successful people in the world who provide resilient, sustainable disaster relief structures.

Since 2010, Lari’s foundation built over 50,000 houses. These were built for Pakistani victims of earthquakes and floods. In 2020, Lari received the prestigious Jane Drew architecture prize. She was 80 years at the time.

8. Dr Sarah Qureshi is working on an aircraft that will make air travel environmentally safe

An aerospace engineer, Dr Sarah Qureshi is considered a trailblazer for Pakistan women. She is working in an industry with very few women. Dr Qureshi is creating the first contrail-free aircraft engine in the world.

This creation will make air travel more environmentally safe by reducing aviation-induced global warming. Dr Qureshi studied at Cranfield University, UK where she attained her Master’s degree in Aerospace Dynamics and a PhD in Aerospace Propulsion.

In her interview with Gulf News, she said Aero Engine Craft was devoted to providing a solution to save the planet. They aim to reduce aviation’s climate impact due to contrails.

9. Nigar Johar is the first woman three-star general and the first female surgeon general in Pakistan

Image of Nigar Johar. Photo by ISPR/

In Pakistani’s history, Nigar Johar is the first woman three-star general. She rose to the rank of lieutenant general in 2020. She was also appointed as the Pakistan Army’s first female surgeon general.

Lieutenant general Johar became a cadet in 1981 and described her journey as long but rewarding. She is from the Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and is also honoured to have another first in her accolades. She is the first woman officer to be in charge of an armed forces hospital.

10. Laraib Atta is a Hollywood VFX artist and Oscar nominee

Laraib Atta was part of the visual effects team for a James Bond film. Atta received Oscar and BAFTA nominations for the film titled No Time to Die.  

A Hollywood VFX artist, Atta has worked on several films. The films include Godzilla, The Chronicles of Narnia, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Apart from the films, Atta has also been part of other work which includes commercials. She has worked on Disney commercials, Olympics promotions, and Nike football commercials. She has also worked on British television series like BBC, Sky and ITV.