Nilofar Bakhtiar

It gives me immense pride to extend heartfelt felicitations to Aurat Foundation as it commemorates 40 years of unwavering commitment to women’s rights, democracy, and social justice in Pakistan. This milestone is not merely a celebration of longevity, but a tribute to an enduring feminist legacy that continues to shape lives, narratives, and policies.

Established in 1986 by the visionary Nigar Ahmad and the trailblazing lawyer Shehla Zia, Aurat Foundation emerged as a transformative force at a time when women’s voices were under seige. Nigar Ahmad’s grassroots leadership and policy foresight, together with Shehla Zia’s fearless legal activism, and most notably her landmark constitutional case on environmental rights laid the foundation for an institution rooted in justice, knowledge, and collective action.

Over the decades, Aurat Foundation has led with integrity and courage from voter education to legal aid, from responses to gender-based violence to the inclusion of minorities and persons with disabilities. Today, under the thoughtful leadership of Naeem Mirza, the Foundation continues to address complex challenges such as climate change, digital equity, and civic space with clarity, resilience, and commitment.

As it launches this historic book and convenes an international conference on climate change, the Foundation reaffirms its role as a catalyst for gender-inclusive climate solutions. I commend the tireless efforts of the Aurat Foundation’s team and its vast network of women leaders and allies, who have sustained and advanced this mission. May Aurat Foundation continue to lead with compassion, courage, and conviction for many more decades to come.