Khurshid Bano: A Relentless Force for Gender Justice

Khurshid Bano is the founder and CEO of Da Hawwa Lur (“Daughters of Eve”), a pioneering NGO fighting for gender justice in Pakistan.

In 1994, she broke barriers as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first female union leader, later launching the province’s first all-women’s union. Her organisation combats gender-based violence, provides legal aid and trauma counselling, and supports displaced women through capacity-building programmes.

A vocal advocate with the Pakistan Alliance Against Sexual Harassment, Khurshid has driven reforms across 32 government departments, championing safer, more equitable workplaces. Her leadership blends bold activism with compassionate action, offering immediate support and long-term systemic change.

Through Da Hawwa Lur, she uplifts voices silenced by tradition and challenges deeply entrenched norms. For Khurshid, empowerment isn’t symbolic – it’s practical, urgent, and nation-changing. She is proof that one woman’s courage can reshape a country’s future.