HWLA 2026: Voices of women shaping Pakistan

What does power really look like when women lead? At this year’s HUM Women Leaders Awards, the answer unfolded not just on stage, but on the red carpet — through stories of courage, conviction and quiet resilience.

The event was attended by celebrities, ministers, diplomats, ambassadors, artists, journalists and changemakers from all walks of life. The event saw Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the chief guest.

On the red carpet, leaders shared advice shaped by lived experience. Dr Sara Saeed of Sehat Kahani told Nukta, “Be as courageous as you can be. Take more risks. Do what you really want to do.”

Journalist Kathy Gannon said, “Regardless of what you come across, you have to challenge yourself, particularly your fears. You really have to step out of your comfort zone.”

“Believe in yourself. It only gets better,” Nadia Jamil told Nukta at the red carpet.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, while speaking to Nukta, advised women, “to empower yourself.”

This year’s awardees represented a powerful cross-section of leadership — from British politician Yasmin Qureshi and activist Anis Haroon, to grassroots changemakers like Mai Jindo from Dadu and healthcare professional Lal Pari from Shimshal, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Visionaries such as Dr Sara Saeed Khurram of Sehat Kahani, Jahan Ara of Katalyst Labs, Brigadier Dr Helen Mary Roberts, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui, humanitarian Nadira Panjwani, journalist Kathy Gannon, diplomat Ambassador Amna Baloch, and many others were recognized for their enduring impact.

“As a woman, I understand firsthand what it takes to raise one's voice, break barriers, and overcome prejudices. It is my sincerest hope that the courage and resilience of these women radiate through each of us and inspire a ripple effect of progress and empowerment,” Sultana Siddiqui of HUM Network said in her address during the event.

The message at the event was clear: women’s leadership is not about titles alone. It is about responsibility, resilience, and the courage to keep going because when women lead, everything truly shifts.