Draft:Sahar Iqbal

Submission declined on 26 July 2025 by RangersRus (talk).

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Declined by RangersRus 2 days ago. Last edited by Citation bot 2 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. NomadHarixPk (talk) 23:30, 25 July 2025 (UTC)

Sahar Iqbal is a Pakistani farmer and agricultural entrepreneur from Pakpattan, Punjab. She is known for transforming inherited, waterlogged land into a productive farm and establishing a women-led agricultural workforce in rural Pakistan. Her work has been featured by international organizations including UN Women and Reuters, highlighting her contributions to rural development and women’s empowerment.

Early life and background

Sahar Iqbal lives in the Pakpattan district of southern Punjab, Pakistan. She and her husband inherited infertile, waterlogged farmland. With limited resources, they began efforts to convert the land into a functioning farm. Sahar initially worked alongside 25 women from the local community and gradually expanded the labor force.

Agricultural enterprise

Over time, Sahar Iqbal built a sustainable agricultural operation cultivating crops such as potatoes, maize, wheat, and rice.^[1] As of 2019, her farm employed nearly 100 women full-time, with the workforce tripling during harvest season.^[2]

Women empowerment and training

Iqbal’s leadership has challenged traditional gender norms in rural farming. She manages all farm operations and supervises a primarily female workforce in a male-dominated agricultural environment. Her workers are paid approximately PKR 350 per day (around USD $2.50), enabling many to improve their living standards through better housing, access to solar electricity, and education for their children.^[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iqbal led awareness campaigns on social distancing, sanitation, and safe work practices. She introduced training programs in drip irrigation, silage production, vermicomposting, and biofloc fish farming to enhance worker skillsets.^[1]

Recognition

Sahar Iqbal was profiled by UN Women in its “Generation Equality” campaign for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] She was also featured in international media coverage by Reuters and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, drawing attention to the growing role of women in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.^[3]

Legacy

Iqbal’s farm is regarded as a model for rural women-led enterprise and social uplift. Her approach has inspired discussions around gender equity, sustainable farming, and the role of women in the informal economy of South Asia.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "I am Generation Equality: Female leadership during COVID-19". UN Women Pakistan. June 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
^ ^a ^b "On one Pakistani farm, it's the women who keep the business running". Reuters. March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
^ "Orders From a Lady: Pakistani Woman Leads All-Female Farm Crew". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

External links

[UNWomen2020-1] "I am Generation Equality: Female leadership during COVID-19". UN Women Pakistan. June 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

[Reuters2019-2] "On one Pakistani farm, it's the women who keep the business running". Reuters. March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

[RFERL2019-3] "Orders From a Lady: Pakistani Woman Leads All-Female Farm Crew". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. March 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2025.

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