Hadiqa Kiani, Mahrang Baloch honored in BBC’s 100 women for 2024

Acclaimed singer Hadiqa Kiani and political activist Mahrang Baloch have been named in BBC’s prestigious "100 Women for 2024" list for their remarkable contributions to humanitarian causes in Pakistan.

The BBC recognised Mahrang Baloch’s impactful advocacy against enforced disappearances.

As a leading Baloch activist and founder of the Baloch Yakjehti (Unity) Committee (BYC), she has emerged as a prominent voice for justice.

In December 2023, she led a march to Islamabad alongside hundreds of women demanding justice for their missing husbands, sons, and brothers.

In October, Mahrang was also featured in Time magazine’s annual "100 Most Influential People of 2024" for her tireless work in championing human rights.

At 31, the doctor has been involved in protests for missing persons in Balochistan since childhood. Her father was abducted in 2009, and his tortured body was discovered in 2011.

Renowned pop singer Hadiqa Kiani was celebrated for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in aiding flood-affected populations in Pakistan.

Following the catastrophic floods of 2022, Kiani launched the Vaseela-e-Raah project, which facilitated the construction of 370 homes and other essential facilities for victims in Balochistan and South Punjab.

Kiani has also served as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) goodwill ambassador.

The BBC 100 Women list also honored five Palestinian women for their significant contributions amidst the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Shireen Abed, a neonatal specialist displaced from her home in Gaza in 2023, established treatment protocols for newborns with limited resources and trained other medics. Despite being evacuated in early 2024, she continues to assist doctors in Gaza remotely.

Yasmeen Mjalli, a designer raised in the United States who relocated to Ramallah in the West Bank, founded the fashion label Nöl Collective.

Her brand celebrated Palestinian craftsmanship through traditional weaving, carving, and embroidery techniques. Mjalli’s iconic “Not Your Habibti” (Not Your Baby) jackets and shirts challenged societal harassment against women.

Enas Al-Ghoul, a displaced agricultural engineer in Gaza developed a water purification device to convert seawater into potable water amid a lack of access to clean water in the enclave.

“The device has since become a lifeline for many living in tents in the Khan Younis area in the south of the Gaza Strip,” BBC said. 

Plestia Alaqad, a 22-year-old social media activist, gained global recognition for highlighting the plight of Palestinians. In 2023, a video she recorded describing the dire situation in Gaza went viral, making her a prominent advocate for Palestinian rights.

After evacuating Gaza, she is now pursuing a master’s degree in media studies on a scholarship in Beirut.

Danielle Cantor, a cultural activist, worked with vulnerable populations in Israeli settlements and Palestinian territories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A vocal critic of Israel’s war on Gaza, Cantor has participated in Women’s Peace Sit-In protests, demanding a ceasefire. She also established the House of Solidarity, a space promoting dialogue on human rights violations in Palestinian territories.