A significant honor has been bestowed upon Pakistan as a young woman from Swat clinched the prestigious Global Citizen Youth Leader award.
At the age of 22, Hadiqa Bashir from Saidu Sharif has become the first Pakistani to attain this esteemed recognition. Her remarkable efforts in advocating for women’s education and rights in the Swat region, along with her founding of ‘Girls United for Human Rights’, have garnered global attention.
Bashir’s dedicated work includes combatting the detrimental practice of underage marriages among girls in her community. Global Citizen praised her commitment to gender equality in tribal areas and highlighted her belief in the transformative power of education for young girls.
Recognizing her outstanding contributions to social justice and sustainable development in Pakistan, Global Citizen commended Bashir’s dynamic leadership and advocacy.
Previously, Bashir has been honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award and the Asian Girls Ambassador Award, while also being named a finalist for the Commonwealth Award.
Hailing from the same region as Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, Bashir continues to follow in her footsteps as a beacon for women’s education and empowerment.
This year, Global Citizen is celebrating 32 young innovators and advocates from the Asia-Pacific region who are tackling issues perpetuating extreme poverty. Award recipients will receive funding to address social challenges in their communities and expand their impactful initiatives.
Additionally, all 32 awardees will have the opportunity to participate in a Youth Leadership Summit in Melbourne, fostering global connections and collaboration on a larger scale.
