Pakistan’s first female federal minister Begum Kulsoom Saifullah Khan passes away

Begum Kulsoom Saifullah Khan - @zahraasaifullah/Instagram

PESHAWAR: Prominent political figure, social activist and Pakistan’s first female federal minister Begum Kulsoom Saifullah Khan passed away on Monday.

Begum Kulsoom was the patron of Saif Group and Chairperson Saifullah Foundation for Sustainable Development.

She is survived by five sons, Humayun Saifullah Khan, Anwar Saifullah Khan, Salim Saifullah Khan, Javed Saifullah Khan and Iqbal Saifullah Khan.

She was commended for her distinguished services to Pakistan in a career spanning the corporate, social and political spectrum.

An active worker, a participant in the Pakistan Independence Movement and a founding member of the All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA) since 1947, Begum Kulsoom served as an advisor to the founder of APWA Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan till 1951.

She was a founding member of the Sarhad Handicapped Children's Association and also served as the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) president of the craft council and as a member of the National Council for Population Planning.

From 1964 till 1990, along with being the Chairperson Saif Group of Companies, Begum Kulsoom was a founding member of the Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI), a founding Member of the Pakistan Association of Women Entrepreneurs and the NWFP (now KP) President of the Pakistan Federation of Business and Professional Women's Association.

She has also represented Pakistan as a delegate at the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations International Council on population and at the World Conference to review and appraise the achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace.

As a public representative, Begum Kulsoom served as a Member of the Provincial Assembly NWFP (now KP), Member of the Federal Council and also as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

The first woman federal minister in Pakistan's history, she served as the Minister for Population Welfare and Organisation and Methods (Management Services Division).

She had also served as the Minister of State for Commerce.

During a glittering ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on the occasion of Pakistan Day in 2008, former President Pervez Musharaf had conferred the prestigious Hilal-i-Imtiaz civilian award upon Begum Kulsoom for her meritorious and distinguished services to Pakistan.

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Comments (23) Closed

Hassan

Jan 26, 2015 09:34pm

R.I.P

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Jan 26, 2015 09:53pm

What an elegant lady!

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Captain

Jan 26, 2015 09:53pm

RIP Madam

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MSAlvi

Jan 26, 2015 10:35pm

Those were the good old days when politicians had some integrity, character, and sincerity to serve the nation. These days most politicians, except a few, are crooks, corrupt, dishonest and no intention to serve the nation. The whole purpose of their being in government, these days, is money, power, and ego.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Jan 26, 2015 10:48pm

May you rest in peace Kulsoom Sahiba! You did a lot for the Pakistani women, handicapped and poor. Thanks a lot.

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Owais

Jan 26, 2015 10:48pm

Allah bestow mercy upon her and upon her grave. One day we will all die! We should preparation of the test of the Judgment Day and preparation of answering of question in the grave. One day we will recognize as a deceased. At this stage we can’t do anything and we will can’t get advantage from any designation. And will not any ministry benifitable for us.

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MALIK

Jan 26, 2015 11:17pm

After a long time of her services, she was recognized in 2008 in the period of Pervez Musharraf. Really now a days the meaning of politics has been changed, Crook, dishonesty and cleverness are the characters except few and due to this environment they do not come forward.

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Thoroughthinker

Jan 26, 2015 11:49pm

She was the epitome of real mother-hood. A sterling example of talent and accessibility. A real Pearl of the East. May her noble soul rest in peace on a high pedestal in the life hereafter.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jan 26, 2015 11:57pm

INNA LILLA HAY WAA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON. From Almighty God we come and to HIM we all have to return one day, sooner or later. Successful are only those who have spent this mortal life in-line with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the great Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). May God Almighty grant Begum Kulsoom Saifullah Khan a place in the Jannatul Firdous and accord her family, fans, relatives, friends, peers, pals, associates, classmates, colleagues, supporters, community, neighborhood, tribe and clan members the courage and fortitude to bear this great loss. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.

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Shahid khan

Jan 27, 2015 01:13am

Media and people should show responsibility and maturity to build this nation and not just sell news. Recount a single charity or welfare act this lady or any other politician except IK has done for the people of Pakistan except building their own fortunes at the expense of poor tax payers money. We should be ashamed to remember them as great leaders or personality. Rather we should expose what was the worth of these people when they entered politics and their worth now and what was their source of income with the tax amount they have paid. This would show their real faces!

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Nasir

Jan 27, 2015 01:19am

Great patriotic lady,May Allah bless her soul

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Muzaffar Oklahoma

Jan 27, 2015 02:03am

Such a distinguished lady.Need more like her in Pakistan.RIP.

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farhad

Jan 27, 2015 03:06am

May God rest her soul in peace ( Ameen ).... how old she was ?

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lfti

Jan 27, 2015 07:14am

we need people like her to help out the disgruntled people of our country.

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asad LATEEF

Jan 27, 2015 08:48am

@MSAlvi how much you know about this lady and its family,however pray her soul.

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saeeds

Jan 27, 2015 09:07am

Only if they did good for there people we are not going through this dark period. Other than holding elite postion what is her legacy.

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NaMaaloom Fard

Jan 27, 2015 09:16am

Was she related to Dr. Raza, Principal Khyber Medical College?

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Jan 27, 2015 10:09am

May Allah rest her soul in peace. We should be proud of such strong women in leadership roles in the Muslim world. In Switzerland women got the right to vote in 1971 and we had women acting as ministers much before that.

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Ahmad

Jan 27, 2015 01:04pm

Rest in peace.

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Khalid Hamid

Jan 27, 2015 04:47pm

What a graceful and true politician passes away. May I offer my deepest condolences to her sons.May Allah her soul in Jannat ul firdous. RIP

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Maliha

Jan 27, 2015 05:33pm

Thank you , you were a great lady , women of Pakistan salute to you. Hope Your commendable dedication , love filled devotion, motherly directions is followed like you by every women of this Nation. We love you and pray to Allah for highest places in Jannah for you. Aameen.

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Anonymous

Jan 27, 2015 11:07pm

An amazing lady. May Allah grant her the highest place in Jannat. Ameen. And May Allah give sabr to her 5 sons and the rest of her family. She was a wonderful woman.

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Nasir

Jan 28, 2015 08:25pm

@farhad she was 91

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