Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan
"APWA will continue its struggle through the next decade and the next until one day the Pakistani women shall emerge free from her shackles- economic, social and political - and face a future over which no shadows appear to obstruct her path toward her maximum development."
Begum Raana Liaquat addressed upon receiving the United Nations Human Rights Award (1978)
APWA was essentially the brain child of Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan, the wife of Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. Begum Raana Liaquat is known as the pioneer of the women's movement in Pakistan. She founded APWA to oversee, consolidate and co-ordinate women's activity for their empowerment and involvement in political, economic and social development. From her point of view, mobilizing women was absolutely critical for Pakistan's development. Begum Raana Liaquat was convinced that "For a nation to rise to its full stature, men and women must march side by side" and women should use their freedom "not for social and moral excesses but in social services and intellectual pursuits."
To encourage female literacy, she popularized the phrase "You educate a woman, you educate a family" and formulated APWA's creed "health, education and training."
BORN : 13TH FEBRUARY, 1905
PLACE : ALMORA (INDIA)
M.A. (ECONOMICS) : Lucknow University
M.A. (SOCIOLOGY) : Lucknow University
B.T. : Calcutta University.
Professor of Economics at Indraprastha College, Delhi, until her marriage in 1933.
On 16th April, 1933, married to Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan who became the First Prime Minister of Pakistan.
AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN TO THE NETHERLANDS:
September 1954 to June 1961 (The First Muslim Woman ever to be appointed an Ambassador). Doyen of the Corps Diplomatique in her last year.
AMBASSADOR OF PAKISTAN TO ITALY AND TUNISIA:
Since June, 1961 to March, 1966.
GOVERNOR OF SINDH:
During February 1973 - 1976, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan was appointed FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR of the province of Sind and Chancellor of Sind University.
FOUNDER AND LIFE PRESIDENT OF:
The All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA) - 1949.
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT OF:
a) The Pakistan Cottage Industries Shop, Karachi.
b) The Raana Liaquat Model Colony for Craftsmen, Karachi.
c) The Gul-e-Raana Nusrat Industrial Centre, Karachi.
d) The Gul-e-Raana Nusrat Community Centre, Karachi.
e) Pakistan Voluntary Health & Nutrition Association.
FOUNDER & EX-MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL:
Raana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics, Karachi
FOUNDER OF:
a) College of Home Economics, Lahore.
b) College of Home Economics, Dacca.
c) Federation of University Women, Karachi.
d) The International Women's Club, Karachi.
e) The Business and Professional Women's Club and its Chief Patron.
f) Friends of APWA.
CHIEF PATRON OF:
a) Nurses Association of Pakistan.
b) Pakistan Montessori Association.
PATRON OF:
Pakistan Association of Women Entrepreneurs.
EX-PRESIDNET OF:
Laced National Hospital Committee, Karachi.
EX-MEMBER OF:
The syndicate and the senate of the Karachi University Executive Committee; and of the Managing Bodies of the Pakistan Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Society, and the British Empire Leprosy Association.
EX-MEMBER OF:
I.L.O. Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions & Recommendations at Geneva (1955-1979) when she voluntarily resigned due to ill health.
January 1975, Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan accepted the partnership of International Conference on the Status of Women to serve in the high-powered Committee along with Mrs. Betty Ford, wife of the President of United States; Mrs. Helvi Slipila, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and Mrs. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and other prominent women.
MEDALS AND CITATIONS AWARDED:
1) Jane Adams'Medal 1950 (U.S.A.)
2) Woman of Achievement Medal 1950 (U.S.A.)
3) Mother of Pakistan 1950 (U.S.A.)
4) Nishan-e-Imtiaz 1959 (Pakistan)
5) ‘Grand Cross of Orange-Nassaue' 1961 (The Netherlands)
6) International Gimbal Award 1961 - 62 (First Asian Woman Recipient)
7) Woman of the World - 1965 (Chosen by the Turkish Women's Association, Ankara)
8) ‘Cavaleiro di Gran Croce' 1966 (Italy)
9) UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD - 1978 (NEW YORK)