ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first Hindu female judge Suman Kumari Bodani said it was an honor for her to inspire women from the country’s tiny Hindu minority.
Hindus in Pakistan are now estimated to number around 4 million out of a population estimated at nearly 208 million.
“It is the biggest honor for me to become a role model for families in my community,” Bodani told Arab News in a phone interview. “Especially for those families and those girls who do not permit their girls to go further in education.”
Bodani is also the first female advocate from Shahdadkot City, a densely populated city in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. She grew up in Hyderabad, and eventually moved to the port city of Karachi to study law.
While working at Rasheed A. Razvi Law Firm, Bodani completed her Masters of Law from Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Law University in Karachi, where she passed with distinction and came third in her class.
“Since childhood I wanted to be an advocate and part of the judiciary,” Bodani said. “This field is highly respectable and full of honor, where everyone can come to get justice.”
When asked what she hopes to do during her tenure, Bodani said that she wanted to work to improve girls’ education, particularly to raise awareness about its importance. given that she was herself an example of the potential women could achieve if they were allowed to pursue their dreams and get an education.
“My family and friends supported me which is how I reached this position and I am so grateful for that support,” Bodani said. “I want to give a message to families who do not support girls education that they should encourage girls to pursue higher education and create their own success, so that they can serve their country as I want to serve my country.”
The first Hindu judge in Pakistan was late Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who also briefly served as Chief Justice of Pakistan.
'Honored to be role model for Hindu community,' says Justice Bodani
'Honored to be role model for Hindu community,' says Justice Bodani
- Justice Sumon Bodani aspires to raise awareness about girls’ education
- Is the first woman advocate from Shahdadkot City in Sindh province
Pakistan’s first non-life Shariah-compliant takaful operator says ‘historic’ IPO oversubscribed 21 times
- Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited offered 30 million shares to investors with ceiling price of Rs14 per share
- Company says IPO proceeds will be used for investments in software, infrastructure, setting up new branches
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first non-life Shariah-compliant takaful operator announced on Thursday that its initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed 21 times at the country’s stock exchange, saying the development reflected strong investor confidence in the Islamic insurance system.
The Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited said earlier this month it would issue 30 million shares with a floor price of Rs 10 and a ceiling price of Rs 14 per share. Institutional investors will receive 75 percent of the shares on offer, while the remaining 25 percent will be allocated to retail investors, it added.
“Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited’s (PQGTL) IPO book-building has concluded with a historic oversubscription of [21x] times, marking the first-ever IPO of a dedicated General Takaful company at PSX,” the company said in a statement.
It said investors responded “strongly” as the strike price closed at Rs 14 per share, compared to the floor price of Rs 10. Total demand reached Rs 4.74 billion [$17 million].
The company said successful bidders will be provisionally allotted 22.5 million shares while the remaining 7.5 million shares will be offered to retail investors on Jan. 28-29.
Shahid Ali Habib, CEO of Arif Habib Ltd., which was the lead manager for the IPO, said that country’s first-ever IPO of any dedicated general takaful company, has made a historic debut at PSX.
Habib said this reflects investor confidence in Pakistan’s fast-growing takaful sector and PQGTL’s strong market position.
The statement further said proceeds from the IPO will be utilized to fund strategic initiatives, such as investments in software and other intangible assets, hardware and infrastructure, marketing and brand development and human resource enhancement.
Proceeds will also be used to establish new branches and transform existing ones to improve operational efficiency and customer experience, it added.
Pak-Qatar General Takaful Limited is part of Pakistan’s pioneer Islamic financial services group and is backed by Qatar-based financial institutions.
