Afroz-Numa, one of the last Wakhi herders, recognized for her contribution to the local community
The names of two Pakistani women are also included in these. BBC’s 100 Inspirational and Influential Women of 2023.
BBC On Tuesday, the list of 100 inspiring and influential women around the world for 2023 was released.
These include lawyer and former US first lady Michelle Obama, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, Ballon d’Or-winning footballer Aitana Bonamati, AI expert Timnit Gebru, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Hollywood star America Ferrera and beauty mogul Huda Kattan.
In a year where extreme heat, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters have dominated the headlines, the list also highlights women who are leading their communities to take action to combat climate change and adjust to its impacts. Working to help.
Afroz-Numa, one of the last Wakhi herders living in the remote Shimla Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, was recognized for her contribution to the local community.
He looked after goats, yaks and sheep for almost three decades.
“Having learned the trade from his mother and grandmother, he is part of a centuries-old tradition now dying out in Pakistan’s Shimshal Valley,” the BBC said.
Each year, these herders move their herds to pastures up to 4,800 meters (16,000 ft) above sea level, where they produce dairy products for exchange while their animals graze.
Their income has brought prosperity to the village and helped them provide education to their children. Afroz-Numa still remembers that she was the first woman in the valley to own a pair of shoes.
Another Pakistani to make the list is Neha Mankani, who traveled to the affected areas to help the victims during last year’s devastating floods.
Through her charity, Mama Baby Fund, Mankani and her team provided life-saving delivery kits and midwifery care to more than 15,000 flood-affected families, according to the BBC.
His specific practice focuses on low-resource settings, emergency response, and climate-impacted communities.
The Mama Baby Fund has now raised enough money to launch a boat ambulance that will transport pregnant women living in coastal communities to nearby hospitals and clinics for immediate treatment.
“The work of midwives is vital in communities facing climate-related disasters. We are both first responders and climate activists, ensuring that women can continue to receive reproductive, pregnancy, and postpartum care, even as conditions worsen around them.
