ISLAMABAD: The French Embassy in Islamabad conferred the prestigious National Order of Merit upon Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq in recognition of her exceptional commitment to human rights, children’s rights, access to education, and the fight against polio, as well as her efforts in strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and France.
The ceremony, held at the Residence, was attended by distinguished guests including Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, Additional Secretary (Europe) Ms. Ayesha Ali from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment at Workplace Ms. Fauzia Viqar, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations, media personnel, and family members of Ms. Farooq.
In his address, the French Ambassador paid tribute to Ms. Farooq’s longstanding dedication to public service and her unwavering advocacy for children’s rights. He highlighted her distinguished parliamentary career, during which she served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules and Privileges, Chair of the Committee on Delegated Legislation, and member of several standing committees, including national health services, law and justice, economic affairs, human rights, and climate change.
Currently serving as the National Coordinator for Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign, directly linked to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms. Farooq has played a pivotal role in advancing immunization efforts nationwide. In recognition of her contributions to the fight against polio, she was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2018.
The Ambassador emphasized her leadership as Chair of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, where she continues to champion children’s right to education and health. With approximately 25 million children still out of school in Pakistan, he noted her steadfast commitment to ensuring that every child has access to education and protection from exploitation.
The Embassy underscored France’s continued support for children’s rights in Pakistan. It contributed to awareness campaigns against child domestic labor and child sexual abuse, as well as initiatives promoting the enrollment of out-of-school children. In June 2024, the Residence hosted the launch of short awareness videos developed in collaboration with the Commission.
France also funded a €100,000 two-year project led by Group Development Pakistan aimed at strengthening the rights of children and their defenders. Another €100,000 initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, implemented by Médecins du Monde/Doctors of the World, focuses on establishing safe spaces for women and girls, offering psychosocial support, medical care, and economic empowerment workshops.
In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the French Development Agency has supported Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign with $55 million, alongside a $32 million program to strengthen primary healthcare and improve child nutrition.
The Ambassador also welcomed recent legislative progress in Pakistan, including laws restricting child marriage in Islamabad and Balochistan, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls, following Sindh’s earlier reforms. He further noted Punjab’s new ordinance declaring child marriage a non-bailable offence and establishing 18 as the minimum age of marriage.
While acknowledging progress, he stressed the importance of Pakistan’s continued implementation of the 27 international conventions related to human rights, governance, labor rights, and environmental standards under the GSP+ trade framework with the European Union, for which a new application will be submitted next year.
Concluding the ceremony, the Ambassador formally conferred the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite upon Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, honoring her dedication, sincerity, and enduring contributions to human dignity, education, public health, and Pakistan-France cooperation.
