Five Young Pakistani Girls Who We Need To Talk About More

This is the year for making changes, breaking stereotypes and defying gender norms. We need to work together for the betterment of our society by creating safe spaces for all. As Pakistanis we should feel proud of those who put their best efforts into what they wish to achieve, no matter what age, size and gender. There are so many young people who need role models to look up to in order to follow their footsteps . Unfortunately, not everyone receives the media attention they deserve and so there is a lack of motivation for others to proceed. Many people are unaware of the talent we hold as a country, so we need to give them more importance as factors of inspiration. Here are 4 young girls who you might have missed, but will not fail to leave you impressed:

Mehak Gul

When Mehak was 6, she started to learn how to play chess. Six years later, she represented Pakistan in an international chess event. Shortly after, at the age of 14, Mehak won the Woman Candidate Master Tile at the Chess Olympaid, where she won six of the eleven matches she played. The now 20 year old, holds the Guinness World Record for arranging a chessboard in 45 seconds.

Sitara Brooj Akbar

Having been born and raised in a small town did not stop Sitara from soaring in the academic world. At the age of 20, she is the youngest Youth Ambassador for the Pakistan Youth Forum in Dubai. She completed her O’Levels at the age of 9, and by 11 she excelled at her GCSE in English, Mathematics, Biology and Physics. She has a long string of academic achievements attached to her name, along with becoming the youngest anti money laundering specialist in the world.

Eshaal Aurangzeb #eshaalsavestheplanet

The almost 9 year old Eshaal has taken it upon herself to save the planet. Inspired by her own drawing, Eshaal was very upset with the state of pollution in our country. She feels strongly about climate change and often holds drives at Sea View, in Karachi, to clean the beach by collecting trash with her friends. Head to Eshaal’s interview with FM91 for more details on how Eshaal is saving the planet!

Scooty Girls – Sana and Arfa

In order to get to their university on time, Sana and Arfa bought a Scooty and rode it themselves. By breaking the gender stereotype, the girls inspired many other women in Rawalpindi to ride bikes. This allowed them to feel empowered and independent. They did not need to rely on anyone to get to class and this boosted their self-confidence even more. They broke away from the stigma attached to women riding bikes and travelling alone, which led them to creating their own Youtube channel called, ‘Scooty Girls’.