Pakistan: Sherry Rehman, Justice Ayesha Malik make it to Forbes’ 50 Over 50 Asia 2023 list
Magazine recognises women ‘making their mark and inspiring region’s next generation'
ISLAMABAD: Two renowned Pakistani women over 50 years of age, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and Supreme Court judge Justice Ayesha Malik, made it to the recently published Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Asia 2023 list that recognises 50 women from Asia-Pacific “reaching new heights in their industries and inspiring the region’s next generation.”
According to the magazine, the list introduces women working across technology, art, politics, pharmaceuticals and beyond and “proving that success comes at any age.”
Sherry Rehman is recognised for her leading role at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) for a ‘loss and damage’ fund, to channel money from rich countries to poor ones that have suffered climate-related disasters.
The magazine’s official twitter handle describes her as “A former journalist, information minister and ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman was the first female to hold office as Leader of Opposition in the Senate in 2018, was appointed Pakistan’s Minister of Climate Change in 2022.”
While expressing her gratitude, Rehman termed her nomination as a matter of honour for her.
‘First woman judge of Supreme Court’
Similarly, in the country’s 75-year history, the 56-year-old Supreme Court judge Justice Ayesha Malik is the first woman to serve as judge of Pakistan’s top court.
Her name has also been included in the list of distinguished Pakistani women over 50.
She was elevated to the apex court from Lahore High Court (LHC) last year.
In 2021, Justice Malik issued a seminal judgement outlawing the use of virginity tests in rape cases. She also served on the board of the Punjab Judicial Academy and as chair of the Judicial Officers Female Supervisory Committee.
In December, 2022, Justice Malik also featured in the BBC’s 100 Women 2022 list. She was the only Pakistani woman to make it to the BBC list of 100 influential and inspiring women from around the world.
“Women must build a new narrative — one that includes their perspective shares their experience, and includes their stories,” Justice Malik had said on being included in the revered list.
Spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office Mumtaz Baloch in a message on social media hailed her inclusion in the most coveted list in the following words:
“Pakistani women continue to excel. Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik now listed among 50 women over age 50 from Asia-Pacific “who are reaching new heights in their industries and inspiring the region’s next generation.”