Pakistan: Maryam Sharif, 1st woman head of government

Daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Sharif on became the first woman to head a province in Pakistan.

She takes charge of Punjab, the country’s richest and most populous province.

Following in the footsteps of her father, one of the leading figures in Pakistani politics, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, 50, was elected head of government of Punjab (central-eastern Pakistan) following the parliamentary and provincial elections held on February 8.

“This is a victory for every woman, a triumph for every daughter and mother. It’s proof that being a woman and being a daughter can’t stand in the way of your dreams”, she said.

This province of 127 million inhabitants has long been her family’s stronghold. Over the years, her father, uncle and cousin have all held this position: head of the Punjab government.