SAN FRANCISCO, May 11: California Congresswoman Grace Napolitano on Saturday honoured Zubeida Khan, a Pakistani-American community activist, with the ‘Woman of the Year Award’ for the 38th Congressional District for her contributions as a board member of the Beverly Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.

Ms Khan is also chairwoman of a leading American Muslim civil rights group, the Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation.

“Volunteerism allows us to make the world a little better than we found it,” Ms Khan said as she accepted the award.

“It allows me to practise a central pillar of my faith as a Muslim and set a positive example for my children.”

Ms Khan also serves on the board of the Islamic Studies Council at the Claremont Graduate University School of Religion.

The council embarked upon the ambitious project of instituting the first Masters programme in Islamic Studies in the US, which came to fruition in 2005.

She served as the treasurer of the Pakistan Arts Council of the Pacific Asia Museum for over six years.