On December 3, 2024, the BBC published its prestigious “100 Women 2024” list, a global list of the most inspiring and influential women of the year. Two Pakistani women made the cut: human rights activist Mahrang Baloch and the legendary singer-songwriter Hadiqa Kiani. It was a proud day for the entire country. Now, she has also been awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz in Pakistan.
Most people know Hadiqa for her voice. She rose to fame in the 1990s and became one of the biggest names in South Asian female pop music, with iconic songs like Boohey Barian, Kamli, and Jaanay Iss Dil. But the BBC did not honour her just for her music. They honoured her for what she did when Pakistan needed her most.
In 2022, catastrophic floods hit Pakistan, one of the worst climate disasters in the country’s history. Millions were displaced. Hadiqa did not just post about it. She launched Vaseela-e-Raah, a full humanitarian project focused on helping flood victims in Balochistan and South Punjab. She urged the public to step up and donate, and the results were remarkable; the project built 370 homes and other essential facilities for affected families.
Hadiqa also serves as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, making her humanitarian role official on a global stage. She was listed alongside global icons like astronaut Sunita Williams, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, and actress Sharon Stone. Hadiqa Kiani did not just sing about a better world. She helped build one, 370 homes at a time.
