Pakistan Journal of Special Education (PJSE) Vol. 11, 2010 ISSN No.

© Department of Special Education, University of Karachi 1818-2860

THE CONTRIBUTION OF BEGUM RANA LIAQUAT

ALI KHAN FOR NATION BUILDING THROUGH
EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF WOMEN
DR. SUMMER SULTANA
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science, University of Karachi

Abstract

Almorra is a small place located in the snowy mountain range of

the UP province of India. This is the place where a baby was
born whose delicate, tiny hands, in the time to come, had to lead
the women of Pakistan, and who had to lead the women of
Pakistan, and who had to take the responsibility of creating
among these women the awareness that a woman’s utility is not
limited to solely her domestic affairs, rather she bears the
potential to provide services for the nation and the country, and
even one step ahead, her services could benefit the entire
humanity. This study focused on dreams and beliefs of one of the
most remarkable women of the 20th Century Begum Ra’ana
Liaquat Ali Khan (mother of Pakistan). She was the first Muslim
women Ambassador Governor and Chancellor of the University
of Sind, to win the Human Rights Prize and other Nobel awards
to delegate to the UNO and got International Gimbel Award for
services to Humanity. She paid her respectable duty of guiding
the women of Pakistan into the wide areas of modern, social ,
cultural, religious and civic life, as well as she played an
important role to established the different kind of organizations
and different level of education and training for development
and nation building. A work which in other nations took
centuries of time and absorbed the energies of many generations.
She accomplished in the span of little more than a decade.

Introduction

“Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan in laying down the rights of Muslim women
has won for them a charter of freedom and protection and this reminder will
serve the women whenever they need it most”1. But Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali
Khan is best known as the founder life president of the All Pakistan Women's
Association (APWA), which has functioned since 1949 as the hub and centre for
PJSE – 2010

the emancipation of women of all creeds and denominations, with branches

covering rural and urban areas in all the provinces. “She set an outstanding
example. The widow of a martyred Prime Minister she continued to pursue her
goal in the spirit of missionary zeal which has inspired other benefactors of
mankind"2.
Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan was born on February 13, 1905 in Almorra (UP),
India. She acquired her early education from the famous Welseley Girls School
at Nainital (UP, India). Later, she was educated at Isabella High School and
Lucknow College. She did her B.A. from the same college. Her impressive
personality and intelligence distinguished her among other students during her
school and college days. She would take active participation in the curricular and
extra curricular events during her schooling and college education. This quality
of her coupled with her natural talent and sense of humour had created problems
for her teachers. At work she was always keen since her childhood. She would
always have an edge over her colleagues due to her talent and mercurial
personality. After her BA, she was admitted at university where she was the only
female student in her class. “She obtained her masters in economics and
sociology, securing first position in her university”3. After her M.A., she
authored a thesis titled 'Role of Woman Labour in the Agriculture and Farming
of UP'. This thesis was declared the best one of the year and, this achievement
raised her importance among her teachers. “She completed the B.T. course from
Dawson College, Calcutta and stood first in her examination”4. Immediately
after, she performed teaching duties as Ghokhlay Memorial High School. She
was soon appointed professor of economics at Indra Prasta Girls College, Delhi
where she served for a year and a half.

Services for Muslim League during Pakistan Movement

On April 16, 1933, she was married to Liaquat Ali Khan who, later, not only
became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan but was also the right hand of Quaid-
e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His firm belief and determination awakened the
nation. Begum Rana Liaquat Ali followed the principles of her husband. She
enjoyed full co-operation of her husband not only in her domestic life but also in
her political and welfare affairs. They had a very happy and successful married
life. As for her social welfare life, following the golden canons of her husband,
she devoted herself for the nation. Her passion, struggle and un-shattered
determination and firm beliefs brought her success in all her plans. She quietly
started working along her life-partner for the Muslim League since the pre-
partition of India when he struggle for an independent and free Pakistan was at
its peak. To assist the Quaid-e-Millat, she learnt typing skills. She revealed that
“she performed duties of secretary to Nawabzada and did the typing work
because the Muslim League could not afford to appoint a salaried secretary, and

56
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

that this job suited her as well”5. Time and circumstances strengthened her power
of decision, opinion and vision. She had great sympathy for the helpless people
and she hated injustice. However, despite all these qualities, her personality was
free of pride and arrogance. She was a household lady and her engagement in
domestic errands kept her satisfied and relaxed.

Prior to Pakistan's existence, she had worked as a common worker. Her devotion
and consistent struggle won her an elated place in life. She played a prominent
role in disseminating Muslim League's message among the Muslim women of the
Sub-continent. Later, she started attending women's Muslim League
Congregations. Although she was not a regular office-bearer, yet she would offer
valuable advice to the party. A few months before the partition, she arranged the
first aid training programme for the Muslim women at her residence. During the
period of agitation and mobs, this training helped the Muslims. Through her
understanding of politics, she became such a liaison between the Muslims and
the government that the government was convinced to accept the demands and
realise the sentiment of the Muslims. In this very concern, she invited Lady
Mount Batton, wife of the last viceroy of India, to her residence and introduced
to her some sixty women of the Muslim League. Each of these ladies, in her own
way, communicated to lady Mount Batton that demand of Pakistan by the
Muslims was the voice of their hearts. This meeting impressed lady Mount
Batton so much that she is quoted to have said that meeting with the Muslim
ladies at Begum Rana Liaquat's residence remain fresh in her mind for a long
time as that day she (lady Mount Batton) was speechless before those ladies.

Social Services and Establishment of Organisations in Pakistan

Begum Rana Liaquat Ali had started her social activities even before partition of
India. After independence of Pakistan, she engaged in establishing social and
welfare organisations. She also arranged at her residence (Gul-e-Rana) gatherings
of the Muslim League leaders, Congress leaders, guests from home and abroad,
and arranged parties on behalf of Muslim League. She remained very busy in
meetings and consultations. She had no time to expose herself in public
congregations, as she did not like personal exposure. She believed in sincere
services, which she was doing. Her belief was that Quaid-e-Millat should
succeed in his aim and the Muslims of India must achieve Pakistan.

During the early days of Pakistan, for the purpose of facing the unexpected and
difficult circumstances, she organised a group of voluntary women of Pakistan so
as to put their collective services and efforts focused on helping those who were
migrating to Pakistan after sacrificing everything back in India. This group of
volunteers was responsible for looking after the accommodation and other needs
of the migrants. Begum Liaquat Ali Khan said: about PWVS, at the Town Hall,

57
PJSE – 2010

New York, on May 10, 1950, “I organised the Pakistan Women's Volunteer
Service and appealed for workers. The response was extremely heartening.
Hundreds of women of all ages and from all classes came forward to do whatever
they could. They were organised into batches and assigned to camps and
hospitals”6. She wanted that the young women come forwarded to contribute to
the refreshing of the social structure of the newly independent Pakistan. It was
Begum Ra’ana’s ideas and dynamic leadership that encouraged hundreds of those
women who had not so far even stepped out of their homes, to come out to serve
the helpless migrants lying at roadsides, in hospitals and relief camps. Her efforts
helped establishment of various offices like Exchange Office, Office of the Lost
and Found, Marriage Bureau, Widow Homes and houses for the abducted. Apart
from these, there were other organisations where volunteer ladies served under
guidance of Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan. She would personally engage in
works along with other women without feeling any sort of inferiority. “This wife
of the Prime Minister of the fifth largest country of the world would sit at a hard
bench, with a subordinate officer and work to speed up the acquisition of food
and other daily-need items for the poor and the needy migrants”7. She would
never hesitate to help them as she realised that her help was badly needed.

When the members of the P.W.V.S. had been working for about five or six
months they felt that they could do more useful work if they were given some
kind of organised basic training. Then she took another step for training of
women. At that time, the country faced acute scarcity of trained nurses. So, she
appealed to the girls of the whole country to come forward in this profession of
human service. Initially it was a difficult phase, however, she used her personal
contacts for bringing a change in this profession, to enhance the salaries of nurses
and to get them a respectable place in the society. She would invite girls and their
families at the residence to influence them to join the nursing profession. “In
order to fulfil this need I organised the Pakistan Women's National Guard in
January, 1948. The basic course consisted of physical training, nursing and
elementary welfare work. Hundreds of workers completed this course and many
of them took up the advanced course, which included advanced nursing,
ambulance driving, typing, shorthand, signalling and A.R.P. At the moment we
have about 2,400 women as members of the P.W.N.G. They are organised in
three battalions by geographic distribution”8. As a result of her endeavours,
hundreds of Muslim girls, who earlier looked down upon nursing, came forward
to join this profession. For the sake of a speedy nursing training and better
physical health, “she established Pakistan National Women's Guard which would
also be helpful for defence purposes. She was the Chief Controller of this
organisation. She worked at this position with fully spirit. Worker women of the
organisation would call her 'Hamari Begum' (our lady)”9. After this organisation
had acquired its aims, it was dissolved.

58
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

Services for the Labour and Craftspeople

Begum Rana Liaquat was particularly concerned with the living and working
conditions of the labour. “She established 'Pakistan Cottage Industries
Association in March 1948 and became its president”10. She created employment
opportunities for hundreds of thousands of migrants and rural industrialists at
reasonable income. The Association would sell the manufactured/crafted goods
at profitable price and distribute the profit among the needy. “When this profit
increased, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan expanded the Association, established
craftsmen's colony and in 1949 opened Pakistan Cottage Industries Emporium –
a shop at Alico House, Victoria Road, Karachi”11. Initially she spent much of her
time to personally supervise the sale at the shop. “Our intention is not only to r
provide facilities 'for the marketing of these goods but to give the workers new
designs and new methods”12.

Begum Rana Liaquat Ali was always surrounded by a small group of volunteer
women. This group made every devotion for the cause of her mission. She would
never assign such responsibility or job to anyone that she would dislike for
herself to do. By and by, this mission became so successful that it got an
international recognition. The Association was now able to contribute donations
to charity and needy women's organisations, TB Hospitals, schools of migrants
and other similar organisations. After that, she intended to establish a self-
sufficient model colony that she had dreamt of long ago. She materialised this
plan by using the profit earned from the cottage industry. “With the help of the
Government of Pakistan and Asia Company, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan
Craftsmen Colony was established with Iqbal Hospital in it”13. Related to the
settlement of migrants, “she found Gul-e-Rana Nusrat Industrial Home, which
provided sewing and embroidery jobs to women at reasonable income. A school
was also opened where children of these women were educated”14. The highly
fine craft-work of these women attracted big orders which developed the
institution further even till this day. These successes provided the weak nation a
means to strengthen itself and the country. These achievements are proof of the
fact that when commitment and beliefs are strong, a nation keeps on marching
ahead on the avenue leading to its destination.

October 16, 1951 was the sad day when Quaid-e-Millat, Liaquat Ali Khan was
assassinated at a moment when Pakistan was desperately struggling to save its
existence. This loss was a huge shock to Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan. Yet,
she was committed to carry out her promise with the Quaid-e-Millat. Despite all
grief, just seven days after death of her husband, she inaugurated, on telephone,
the Seventh Day Adventists Hospital at Karachi. She believed that women should
become good citizens as they had to playa key role in the society as mothers,
sisters, wives and teachers. Through APW A, she paid attention to the betterment

59
PJSE – 2010

of rural areas as well. Besides, she saved the women of the country from many
hardships by getting passed the family laws through the efforts of APW A.

Establishment of APWA
Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan is best known as the Founder Life President of
the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA) which has functioned since 1949
as the hub and centre for the emancipation of women of all creeds and
denominations, with branches covering rural and urban areas in all the provinces.
“As the volunteer service had developed enough, it was thought to organise
Pakistan Women's Organisation. In this regard, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali
presided a meeting at her residence on February 22, 1949 and hence founded
APW A (All Pakistan Women's Association) with its aim to protect social,
educational and political rights of Pakistani women”15. In her presidential address
on 22 Feb 1949, she said “A new Nation, a new freedom, a new responsibility
these are ours today, and constitute a new challenge to the women of Pakistan, a
challenge we can not ignore if we are to take our proper place in the national
life”16. APWA has got its branches all over the country. This Association serves
as a consultant agency to the Government of Pakistan in the affairs of women.
APW A is affiliated to General Federation of Women's Club, International
Alliance of Women, Association of Country Women of the World, International
Council of Women, World Assembly of Youth, Pakistan Cottage Industry, Gul-
e-Rana Industrial Home & Club, Women's International Club and Social Services
Co-ordinating Council. APWA has been represented by its members in a number
of international conferences. The first participation by ladies of Islamic countries
in a meeting in Pakistan was in APWA's meeting held in 1956 at Lahore where
ladies from Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia, Lebanon and Turkey had participated.
This association has organised adult and primary Literacy Centres, primary
schools, and industrial homes for widows and Pakistan Cottage 1ndustries. The
industrial homes have proved very useful as they have not only provided work
for a large number of women, who had no other means of livelihood, but in
addition they have served as training centres for those women who wanted to
learn new professions, like tailoring, dressmaking, needle point, etc.

Services for Health

She also focused on the health of the people to concentrate the nation building
“our aim is to make our people health-conscious and then they themselves will
see to it that they get what they need. Ignorance, poverty, distress, and
indifference have to be fought and overcome in addition to the difficulties of
lack of funds, personnel, equipment, and other disabilities”17. She wanted well
train nurses with a healthy and good environment.

60
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

"Realising the vital importance of such a training both for our girls and for the
country, I appealed to Muslim, girls of good family and education to come
forward for-training. This was no easy matter, for it entailed a clash with old
prejudices and customs; it required my personal appeal not only-to the girls, but
to their families who had to be convinced and assured that the general living,
work and social conditions attached to nursing would be overhauled and bettered.
Finally, we were able to get a fairly good response, and have been able to arrange
to have well-qualified foreign nurses come over to train the girls in the Pakistan
hospitals, and to send Pakistani nurses, abroad for training”18.

Services for Educational System

When she concentrated for improving the educational system a lot of hurdles
were connected with the education but she made a way with an old machinery.
The same difficulties and inadequacies prevail with regard to our schools, all the
larger, older, better-equipped, better known schools, colleges, training centres,
libraries, museums.

“In the meantime, we are trying to open more schools wherever possible. We
also feel strongly that our system of education should be orientated to conform
both to the needs of a modern, practical and progressive world and to the
ideals of a truly Islamic State in such a world”19. Her ideas about the
commitment of religion are very deep-rooted that the human being gets
happiness from the real and actual spirit of religion. She wanted to establish a
model system, which based on religion or Islamic Ideology. She said “In
Pakistan we attach a great deal of importance to religion and we want to build
up our country as an Islamic State. We wish to emphasise are the basic Islamic
principles of equality, brother hood, social and economic justice”20.

She believed that the educational system must be based on Islamic ideology.
“We Muslims believe that the universe belongs to God and that human beings
can find real happiness and the deepest kind of contentment only if they
submit to the will of God. Islam does not believe in the renunciation of this
world. It insists that only a good citizen, a good neighbor, a good husband or a
good mother can be a good Muslim. The highest kind of saintliness is that
which is practiced by a citizen who is honest, kind and charitable in his
dealings with his fellow beings. Everybody must feel responsible for
everybody else. Human beings must learn once again that co-operation rather
than competition is the real key to the solution of many problems, which face
the world today. We must educate the future generations into a spirit of co-
operative enterprise. Thorough study of the religion should form part of our
education. Not only this, but our constitution itself should be based on Islamic
principles. I hope we will be successful in doing this in the next few years”21.

61
PJSE – 2010

According to her ideas about the education and practices of human being it was
not mere book learning, but training, intellectual, physical and spiritual, which
made a person a complete human being, fully aware of all his duties in life.
However learned a man might be in books, if he did not treat his wife and
children well nor did he know how to pay his responsibilities as a citizen, he
would not deserve to be called an educated person. Similarly, if a woman after
completing her studies did no know how to run her home she could not be
considered an educated woman. She said "In one respect education of women is
more important than of men, for the women have to bring up and train children in
the first few years. If the beginning is right, the rest is easy”22.

Begum Liaquat Ali Khan for an address on July 8, 1954 to the American
Women’s Club of Karachi she said on women’s education in Pakistan. “I share
with you some thoughts on the vexed and vital question of women's education in
Pakistan, for at this critical stage of our general social and political progress it is
important to take stock of the position, and try to think out clearly and carefully
just what goals attitudes and trend we really want before we embark upon large-
scale plans and expenditure. I have in mind especially is very largely a shift in
emphasis from the mere ‘education of women’, which is now accepted
everywhere in Pakistan as both desirable and necessary to the more specific and
much less understood one of ‘education for women’ – something which is
custom tailored for them and not just ‘off the rack’. I think this is true of all
education. It should be tailored to the varying needs of the boys and girls, the
community and country, the national and international needs it is intended to
serve and adorn, rather then merely clothe or disguise”23.

She was conscious of the deficiencies and anxious of remedy in the development
of education. So she introduced the six-year national plan of educational
development for Pakistan 1951 to1957. This scheme was drawn up under the
Colombo Plan and at a subsequent Educational Conference, so that the
educational and economic development of Pakistan should proceed in a balanced
and co-ordinated manner and it takes into account the qualitative as well as the
quantitative aspects of education. The plan attempts to meet and overcome a
great deal of this teacher’s training, living and working conditions. These are
connected with training and study facilities for teachers and similar facilities for
home science and the arts. She wanted the women associate with other
profession to fined more and more ways into the various profession and types of
business, which have especial interest for them. On July 19, 1954, in the Central
Government College for Women. She said “I feel rather urgent and special work
awaits a larger number of our young women with the requisite talent and training
and I will add, with the necessary character, since the less sheltered and less
frequented paths will necessarily call for greater courage and initiative”24.

62
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

Begum Liaquat Ali Khan said, in the Seminar on Vocational Education for
Women in Pakistan, held in Karachi by the Pakistan Federation of University
Women, on August 25, 1967. “I believe, already a widely accepted fact amongst
us, hence our attention now must turn to the quality and quantity of the facilities
available, education wise, job wise, and social acceptance-wise”25. Here she
indicated some weaknesses of the present vocational education a major weakness
in our general vocational training, for boys as well as girls, is the lack of co-
ordination, in both content and discipline, between the training offered and the
actual places where, and conditions under which the jobs have to be done. This
makes it difficult and wasteful for both the employer and the employed. Another
major difficulty is the lack of specific, reliable, widely-circulated and up-to-date
information on vocational education and job possibilities. “It is important that
vocational education for our women takes proper account of the special aptitudes
and mental as well as physical and moral skills and capacities of those who offer
themselves for training. Suitable tests, guidance and encouragement are
necessary, over a period of time, to ensure the best results; but I fear we are still
woefully inadequate in this”26. The students must be made to understand clearly
the importance of the disciplines inherent in the vocations they choose so that,
when they have to go out and practise them and certain peculiarly special
contributions they can make to any work they undertake, and in this lies their
need, their value and their encouragement. When they realise this they will be
better fitted to achieve the success they hope for. “I believe that, in principle,
there should be no bar against them as women. It has been said that everything
in a modern home is controlled by switches, except the children, Scientific,
Vocational and Professional education for women is a need, not a wastage of
educational opportunity, nor need it conflict with their social role. There are
certain subjects, such as Home Sciences, which are of special need and interest to
them, and should form a required part of their curriculum through the school
years”27.

Advise for Women

Women can play a beneficial, as well as a decisive role, in assisting the
meaningful and steady development of Insurance in Pakistan for as home makers,
citizens and natural-born trend-setters, it is some thing which concerns them
personally in the most vital parts of their lives. Women’s groups can very
usefully work towards building up public opinion for expanding both Group and
Social Insurance benefits, as part of their Social Welfare, Education, Home
Extension and Rural programmes. “I do sincerely believe that it is the women
who can do the most to make or break a nation. Numerically, women constitute
the complementary other half of the world’s population (that is so in Pakistan)
and, although I am not always a great believer in the mere strength of numbers, I
think it is significant here because women constitute a tremendous power

63
PJSE – 2010

potential as the hub of that very vital unit of all life’s activities – the family. I
believe, and I think practical experience bears me out, that if you wish to create
public opinion for or against anything, it is the women you must reach. From
modern advertising to diplomacy, this is true to day. I feel can be better done in
each case through special school and college assembly sessions, debates,
dialogues, readings dramas, lectures, etc., and through the use of special T.V. and
Radio programmes during the normal working hours and after them also, so that
the real purpose of the commemoration is deeper, more intelligent, more
generally useful and more realistic, than a mere public holiday could ever
achieve”28.

Education is every women’s moral and civic right, but with that right goes the
obligation to pull her full weight in the economic and overall development of the
country, according to the opportunities available to her, both in her own home
and outside it. Job opportunities and training in various fields should be made
increasingly available to her so that her education does not remain a mere
drawing room accomplishment. “Our young educated women need to remember
more widely and conscientiously is that their education is not a mere idle and
personal adornment, but a hard-earned social trust to be used intelligently for
their own continuing development and that of society at large”29.

Advise for educational development

Education is the key to our progress and development, yet it falls lamentably
short in quality, quantity, diversification and availability to meet our need to day.
1. “The actual percentage of national funds allotted to it are insufficient, yet
there is money available for luxury and prestige projects which can more
easily afford to wait their turn.
2. “There should be a more serious attempt at making free and compulsory
primary education a reality, an overhaul of current teaching methods and
materials the provision of more vocational training facilities, and wider
use of the mass media for educational purposes”30.
3. “The Education, at all levels and primarily at the basic primary and
secondary levels, is the general and overriding necessity for both urban
and rural areas, beginning with priority crash programmes in literacy,
functional adult literacy, as well as free and compulsory primary
education for all.
4. “Education is, moreover, a key factor in the successful tackling of
Family Planning Programmes, upon which rest not only the raising of
health and living standards, but the increase and stability of economic
development and the per capita income”31.

64
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

5. “Let us take just three basic qualities, which should be the marks of a
good education. A balanced self-discipline based on sound moral values.
The ability to think and act analytically and constructively, with a mind
open to seeking knowledge wherever it may be found as the Holy Quran
enjoins and a heart ready and willing to share actively in fighting
ignorance, poverty, disease, hunger, moral degradation and the other
myriad ills of our social and economic conditions”32.

Administrative Services
“In 1948 she not only visited all areas of Pakistan, but also several countries
including Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Syria with her husband Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat
Ali Khan. In 1950, she visited US and Canada. During this visit, she was
presented several distinguished awards e.g. honorary citizenship of Texas (US),
honorary membership of Negro Women's Association. In 1951, she visited the
Middle East and England. The same year she was awarded Jane Arms medal and
Women of Achievement medal. The US gave her the title of 'Mother of Pakistan.
In 1952, she represented Pakistan in the 7th General Assembly meeting of the
UNO. In 1953, as a royal guest, she attended the crown-wearing celebrating of
Queen Elizabeth. She was the only lady from the Commonwealth countries to
have been invited as a royal guest”33. From 1954 to 1961, she remained
Ambassador for Pakistan in the Netherlands. Fortunately “Those days, she was
first Muslim woman remained Ambassador for Pakistan in the Netherlands from
Sep 14 1954 to June 1961. Pakistan had not acquired the status of a democratic
state that is why she was appointed Ambassador by Queen Elizabeth. It was seen
that a lady (Queen Elizabeth) appointed a lady (Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan)
for the country of another lady (Queen Juliana of Netherlands). During the tenure
of her ambassadorship, she was conferred upon the award of Dean of Diplomatic
Groups. She was ambassador also for Sardinia. She visited Russian, China,
Turkey, Romania, France, West Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria and
Greece. “She became member of LLO Committee of Experts Convention and in
this connection she participated in Geneva meetings. The Government of
Pakistan appointed her ambassador in Italy and Tunisia from 1961 to 1966. In her
farewell party at Netherlands, Prince Bernard personally presented her the Grand
Cross of Orange Nissau on behalf of Queen Juliana”34. This was a great honour
for an ambassador because such award was conferred only upon heads of states
and members of the royal family. This shows that during her assignment at
Netherlands, she had left a really good impression of Pakistan's ambassadorship.

“She became the first lady governor and chancellor of universities in the province
of Sindh from 1973 to 1976. She was founder president of APW A for life. She
was also founder president of Pakistan Cottage Industries Shop. Rana Liaquat
Model Colony for Craftsmen, Gul-e-Rana Industrial Centre, Gul-e-Rana

65
PJSE – 2010

Community Centre and Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association in

the city of Karachi. Besides, she was founder Comptroller of Pakistan Women's
Naval Reserve Pakistan Women’s National Guard, founder and governing body
member of Rana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics, Karachi. She
was founder of College of Home Economics, Lahore, College of Economics,
Dacca, Federation of the University of Karachi, the International Women's Club,
Karachi, the Business & Professional Women's Club and Friends of APW A. She
headed Nusrat Association of Pakistan, Pakistan Montessori Association and
Pakistan Association of Women's Entrepreneurs. She was also president of
Liaquat National Hospital. She was member in the Inquiry Committee of Karachi
Education, Syndicate of University of Karachi, Executive Committee of the
Senate of University of Karachi, Committee of Pakistan Red Crescent Society,
St. John's Ambulance Society, British Empire Leprosy Association, Pakistan
Mental Health Association, I.L.O. and Vice President of Pakistan Society of
UK”35.

She was awarded many great awards her list of awards includes “Jane Adam's
Medal 1950, USA; Women of Achievement Medal 1950, USA, title of Mother of
Pakistan, 1950, USA Nishan-e-Imtiaz, 1959 by Government of Pakistan, Grand
Cross of Orange Nissau, 1961, Netherlands, International Gamble Award 1961-
62 (as the first Asian woman), Women of the World, 1965, Turkish Women's
Association, Ankara, Turkey, Cavaliar Woodgreen Cross 1966, Italy and UN
Human Rights Award 1978, New York”36.

Overview
Begum Rana Liaquat was an outstanding writer and debater. She delivered a
number of speeches within and out of country. She brought out two books titled
'Challenge and Change' (1980) and 'Speeches and Statements of Begum Rana
Liaquat Ali Khan' (1980-85). Besides her abilities and talents, she was exemplary
in ethics and behaviour. She respected social worker women, admired them and
was always prepared to offer advice. She was counted among the most prominent
ladies of Pakistan. Her position as the first lady ambassador and governor played
an important role in recognition of Pakistan on international level. She was keen
in constructive work. Like visionaries, she would establish new settlement. She
established scores of educational institutions, opened hospitals and dispensaries,
established a locality of craftsmen and opened maternity centres. Through these
activities she developed a new tradition in the country.

Beguam Rana Liaquat Ali Khan died on June 13, 1990. She was considered a
pillar for women in the sphere of politics. Till her last, she remained engaged
with politics and social activities. There is no better way to know about her
sincerity than knowing the fact that despite being daughter of a rich family,

66
 The Contribution of Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan for Nation Building through Education and
Training of Women

daughter-in-law of a Nawab family, wife of a Prime Minister and herself

Governor and Chancellor of a province, an Ambassador, President of APW A,
and despite bearing a number of offices, till her last breath she did not own even
a personal house.

Contribution made by one woman towards the social and educational uplift of the
women of her country. Being a reflection of the actual work done. As a
sociologist and a trained economist she has emphasised the inherent danger to the
country if this situation is not remedied, her prime objectives were to remove
illiteracy and secured the rights of women.

References

1. F.D. Douglas, Challenge and Change, Speeches by Begum Ra’ana

Liaquat Ali Khan (Words of Meher Nigar Masroor), 1980-85, Karachi p
(x)
2. Ibid. P (xv)
3. Khursheed Ara Begum, Yeh Qum Ki Hain Betiyan, Karachi, 1981, p. 94.
4. Ibid. pp 94, 95
5. Noor-us-Saba Begum, Tehreek-e-Pakistan aur Khawateen, Lahore, p. 70
6. F.D. Douglas, Challenge and Change, Speeches by Begum Ra’ana
Liaquat Ali Khan, 1980-85, Karachi p-7.
7. Khursheed Ara Begum, Yeh Qum Ki Hain Betiyan, Karachi, 1981, p.
101.
8. F.D. Douglas, Challenge and Change, Speeches by Begum Ra’ana
Liaquat Ali Khan, 1980-85, Karachi p-7.
9. Khursheed Ara Begum, Yeh Qum Ki Hain Betiyan, Karachi, 1981, p.
103-104.
10. Ibid. P-104
11. Ibid. P-105
12. F.D. Douglas, Challenge and Change, Speeches by Begum Ra’ana
Liaguat Ali Khan, 1980-85, Karachi p-8.
13. Khursheed Ara Begum, Yeh Qum Ki Hain Betiyan, Karachi, 1981, p.
107.
14. Ibid.p107
15. Ibid.p109
16. F.D. Douglas, Challenge and Change, Speeches by Begum Ra’ana
Liaquat Ali Khan, 1980-85, Karachi p-1.
17. Ibid.p-8
18. Ibid.p-9
19. Ibid.p-9
20. Ibid.p-9

67
PJSE – 2010

21. Ibid.p-10-11
22. Ibid.p-11
23. Ibid.p-58
24. Ibid.p-63
25. Ibid.p-115
26. Ibid.p-116
27. Ibid.p-172-173
28. Ibid.p-136-138
29. Ibid.p-173
30. Ibid.p-140
31. Ibid.p-143
32. Ibid.p-174
33. Noor-us-Saba Begum, Tehreek-e-Pakistan aur Khawateen, Lahore, p. 78-
79
34. Ibid.p-79
35. APWA, 50 Years of Service, Karachi, 1999, p-20-21
36. Ibid.p-21

68