Tanzila Umm e Habiba

Aurat Foundation’s four-decade journey is more than a milestone it is a legacy of resilience, resistance, and relentless service to the women of Pakistan. From remote villages to urban centres, your work has reminded us all that progress is not possible without women at the heart of it. As a woman in politics, I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it is to step forward when systems are designed to hold you back. But organisations like Aurat Foundation have been the quiet revolutionaries working behind the scenes, opening locked doors, and believing in women long before the world did.

In Sindh, where strength often lives in silence, your programmes have created spaces for dialogue, leadership, and dignity. You’ve given countless women not just a voice, but a reason to use it and the tools to make it heard. We often speak of women’s rights in policy rooms but Aurat Foundation has taken that conversation to the ground, where it matters most. You’ve taught young girls that leadership doesn’t come with permission it begins with purpose.

As a young girl growing up in Sindh, I never imagined that one day I’d serve in the Assembly. But I stand here because I saw other women stand up. And many of those were lifted by the platforms, trainings, and trust created by Aurat Foundation. It is also important to recognise that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always led from the front when it comes to women’s empowerment. From Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s legacy to today’s leadership, PPP has consistently championed gender equality. Sindh proudly leads the country in enacting strong, progressive, and pro-women legislation more than any other province because of PPP’s unwavering commitment.

To every woman breaking barriers, building businesses, raising families, or simply surviving your story matters. And to those still finding their voice know this: you don’t have to wait for an invitation to lead. You are already enough. You are already powerful. Thank you, Aurat Foundation, for 40 years of walking beside us not ahead, not behind but together.