Farzana Raja
Encyclopedia
Farzana Raja is a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
. She is Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a program which aids impoverished families in Pakistan. Although Farzana Raja was born in Gujrat
but she belongs to a Shia Muslim family of the Gujar Khan, a tehsil of Rawalpindi
and Chak Rajgan is her village which is situated in Gujar Khan
. She had married Pir Mukarram ul Haq from a well known political feudal family of Sindh
. Later they divorced and Farzana Raja went on marrying Ammar Turabi the son of famous Shia Scholar Allamah Rasheed Turabi
.
. She earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from University of the Punjab
.
(PPP). Farzana Raja has contested the election for the district Rawalpindi assembley in 1998 which she lost with wide margin. She was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
from 2002–2007 in a reserved seat for women
.
In February, 2008, she was elected to the National Assembly in the Pakistani general election, 2008
to a reserve seat.
In October 2008, she was appointed by Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gillani
to the position of Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Program.
The BISP, named in honour of the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto
is a program which aims to offset the effects of inflation on the poorest people in Pakistan, including families headed by widowed or divorced women, or families with persons with disabilities or chronic disease.
In June 2009 in her capacity as BISP Chairperson, she attended a ceremony that announced a financial package for the internally displaced who would receive a monthly grant of Rs1,000 as part of the BISP programme.
In July 2009 she visited New York and met at the United Nations
with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund
, the United Nations Children's Fund
, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the World Bank
.
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?62136-Farzana-Raja-Behind-the-Camera
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
. She is Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a program which aids impoverished families in Pakistan. Although Farzana Raja was born in Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
but she belongs to a Shia Muslim family of the Gujar Khan, a tehsil of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
and Chak Rajgan is her village which is situated in Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan
Gujar Khan is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab. It is approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan and 220 km to the north west of Lahore, capital of Punjab...
. She had married Pir Mukarram ul Haq from a well known political feudal family of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. Later they divorced and Farzana Raja went on marrying Ammar Turabi the son of famous Shia Scholar Allamah Rasheed Turabi
Allamah Rasheed Turabi
Allamah Rasheed Turabi was an Islamic scholar, religious leader, public speaker, poet and philosopher. He was born on 9th Jamadi-us-Sani 1326 / July 9, 1908 in Hyderabad, India....
.
Education
Raja was born in GujratGujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
. She earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
.
Political career
Farzana Raja is affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
(PPP). Farzana Raja has contested the election for the district Rawalpindi assembley in 1998 which she lost with wide margin. She was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the province of Punjab, which is located in Lahore in eastern Pakistan...
from 2002–2007 in a reserved seat for women
Reserved political positions
Several politico-constitutional arrangements use reserved political positions, especially when endeavoring to ensure the rights of minorities or preserving a political balance of power...
.
In February, 2008, she was elected to the National Assembly in the Pakistani general election, 2008
Pakistani general election, 2008
A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
to a reserve seat.
In October 2008, she was appointed by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
to the position of Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Program.
The BISP, named in honour of the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
is a program which aims to offset the effects of inflation on the poorest people in Pakistan, including families headed by widowed or divorced women, or families with persons with disabilities or chronic disease.
In June 2009 in her capacity as BISP Chairperson, she attended a ceremony that announced a financial package for the internally displaced who would receive a monthly grant of Rs1,000 as part of the BISP programme.
In July 2009 she visited New York and met at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Population Fund
The United Nations Population Fund is a UN organization. The work of the UNFPA involves promotion of the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. This is done through major national and demographic surveys and with population censuses...
, the United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
.
External links
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?62136-Farzana-Raja-Behind-the-Camera