STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : The low representation of women in the 2026 Presidential Civil Awards list, approved by President Asif Ali Zardari, has sparked questions among social activists, women’s representative groups and civil society.
Social activist Saima Mehboob said women had rendered notable services in education, healthcare, social welfare, philanthropy, business, entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, access to justice and community development, but their representation in national honours did not reflect these contributions.
She said the criteria for nominations for civil awards should be broader and more inclusive so that women who may not hold prominent positions in major institutions or traditional fields but are creating lasting social change can also be recognised.
Saima Mehboob recommended the name of Fitrat Ilyas for a civil award in recognition of her work to economically empower women. According to her, Ilyas has helped numerous women start businesses, register their enterprises and become part of formal economic activity, enabling many to become financially independent.
She also recommended the names of Rabab Mehdi and Rakhshanda Naz for their work in providing women with access to justice, helping them secure inheritance rights and addressing workplace issues.
Saima Mehboob said women working to raise awareness about legal and social rights, facilitate access to justice, guide women on inheritance matters and address workplace problems should also receive national recognition.
She also called for the services of overseas Pakistani women engaged in social welfare, community service and initiatives for women’s education and empowerment to be considered for civil awards.
According to Saima Mehboob, the nomination criteria should not be limited to traditional fields. Services in social work, economic empowerment, business, entrepreneurship, access to justice, legal rights and community development should also be given due importance.
She said women constitute nearly half of the country’s population, making questions about their low representation in national honours natural. The objective, she clarified, should not simply be to achieve 50 per cent representation, but to establish a transparent and inclusive system that identifies and recognises deserving women on the basis of their work and social impact.
She said women who help others gain access to business, employment, education, justice and basic rights create an impact that extends beyond individuals to families, communities and the national economy, and such contributions should receive appropriate recognition through national honours.
