ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal minister for climate change, Sherry Rehman and Supreme Court’s Justice Ayesha Malik were featured this week in a list compiled by Forbes magazine that includes 50 women over the age of 50 who made headlines in 2022.
Forbes released the ‘50 Over 50: Asia 2023’ list on January 11 to celebrate women across technology, pharmaceuticals, art, politics and beyond who are “reaching new heights in their industries and inspiring the region’s next generation.”
Rehman, 62, was appointed as the country’s climate change minister in April 2022 after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was elected to office. A few months after Rehman took over the reins of the post, heavy rains triggered unprecedented floods. Over 1,700 people were killed while more than 33 million in the country were affected by the calamity, which also inflicted damages of over $30 billion, Pakistan estimated.
At the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Egypt last year, Rehman was influential in convincing the world to set up a “loss and damage” fund for developing countries. The fund aims to channel money from countries that cause high carbon emissions, to others that are vulnerable to climate change damages and disasters.
Malik, on the other hand, made history in January 2022 when she became the first woman judge of Pakistan’s apex court. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved her elevation from the Lahore High Court (LHC) to the apex court after it was approved by a majority of five votes against four.
“Malik previously served for a decade as a judge on the Lahore High Court, ruling on the enforcement of international arbitration in Pakistan and sat on the Green Bench, advocating environmental justice,” Forbes wrote about her.
The publication also acknowledged Malik’s “seminal judgment” on virginity tests in rape cases, which were hailed widely in Pakistan.
About Rehman, Forbes mentioned her credentials as a former information minister, journalist, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US and the country’s first female leader of the opposition in the Senate.
“Rehman has received various awards, including Pakistan’s highest civil award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz,” Forbes wrote.
The magazine mentioned how Rehman had also been named among the ‘25 Most Influential Women in 2022 by Financial Times.’
