Education has always been described as the backbone of any nation, but in Pakistan its journey has beena test of resilience. Despite being declared a priority in countless policies, education often remainedunderfunded and neglected by the state. It was women who refused to let this neglect define thecountry’s future. Time and again, they stepped into the vacuum left by weak structures and proved thateducation was not just about classrooms, but about survival, dignity, and progress. From the earliestyears of independence to today, women have built schools, shaped policies, and fought to keep thedream of learning alive for millions of children.Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan was among the earliest champions. In 1949, she founded the All PakistanWomen’s Association (APWA), which went on to establish schools, vocational centers, and literacyprograms. At a time when resources were scarce, her leadership proved that women’s education wascentral to nation-building. Around the same time, Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah also emergedas a strong voice. As one of the first women parliamentarians of Pakistan and a delegate at the UnitedNations, she worked to shape education policies at home and contributed to drafting the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights abroad, linking Pakistan’s struggle for women’s education to the globalmovement for equality.In later years, the struggle for education continued to take new forms. Asma Jahangir, best known for herfearless fight for human rights, consistently raised her voice for equal access to education, recognizing itas the foundation of empowerment. From a very different background, Mukhtaran Mai also turned toeducation as her answer to injustice. After facing immense personal tragedy, she established schools forgirls in rural Punjab, proving that even in the most neglected corners of the country, education couldtransform entire communities.The early 21st century brought Pakistan a young but powerful voice in Malala Yousafzai. Her courage instanding up for girls’ schooling in Swat Valley made her a global symbol of resistance and hope. In 2014,she became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and co-founded the Malala Fund, whichsupports education initiatives worldwide. Malala’s leadership showed the world that the right to learn isnon-negotiable.That same year, Ms. Ainee Nasir Jamy carried this torch forward with the founding of Sunbeams SchoolSystem. A visionary leader, she dared to imagine a Pakistan free from illiteracy and is now working tomake this vision a reality. Through the ambitious PK 100 for 100 Campaign—a project that aims to make100% of Pakistan literate by the nation’s 100th birthday—she has transformed Sunbeams into anationwide mission. What started with a single school in Hanjarwal, Lahore, on 14th August 2014, hasgrown into 162+ schools, reaching more than 15,000 students with the support of 400+ teachers across12 districts of Pakistan. The initiative also focuses on diversity in learning, with 35 non-formal schools forout-of-school children, 12 madrassah programs integrating modern education (spread across Lahore,Islamabad, Okara, and Layyah), and 5 vocational centres—three of them affiliated with NAVTTC—providing practical skills to empower youth.With over three decades of experience in education and social entrepreneurship, Ms. Jamy has workedto bring inclusive, quality education to underserved communities across Pakistan. Sunbeams haspartnered with APWA, linking the pioneering legacy of Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan to today’s grassrootsreality. Having also worked with UNICEF, CARE Foundation, and LACAS, and with experience in the USand UK, she has combined global expertise with local vision, ensuring that children in the most neglectedareas gain access to learning and opportunity.Alongside Ms. Jamy, other education leaders have emerged in recent years. Humaira Bachal, who beganher journey as a teenager in Karachi’s Lyari, went on to establish the Dream Foundation Trust, dedicatedto educating underprivileged children. Baela Raza Jamil, through Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, has redefinededucation reform with large-scale literacy initiatives and the Annual Status of Education Report, a toolthat has shaped national policy through data-driven advocacy.From Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan’s APWA schools to Shaista Ikramullah’s pioneering policy voice, fromMalala’s global platform to Ms. Ainee Nasir Jamy’s Sunbeams vision, women in Pakistan havecontinuously led the way in education. Their work, each building on the foundations laid by those beforethem, is a reminder that the future of Pakistan rests on classrooms filled with hope, equality, andopportunity. About Author: The author is an IR researcher with a focus on education and social change. She is currently an intern at Sunbeams School System.