Fiza Farhan is a Pakistani social entrepreneur, climate change activist, and women’s rights advocate. She is the co-founder and CEO of the Buksh Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to provide sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities in Pakistan.
Fiza Farhan is also a member of the board of directors of the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Program (WELP), which works to promote gender equality and empower women in Pakistan. In addition, she has served as a member of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment.
In recognition of her work, Fiza Farhan has received several awards, including the prestigious “Forbes 30 Under 30” award in the Social Entrepreneurs category in 2015. She was also named one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Pakistan” by Newsweek Pakistan in 2012, and a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum in 2014.
Fiza Farhan was born on June 10, 1984, in Lahore, Pakistan. She grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. Her father was a businessman, and her mother was a teacher.
Fiza Farhan attended Lahore Grammar School for her early education and later earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). She then went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
During her time at university, Fiza Farhan was involved in several extracurricular activities, including organizing events for the LUMS Entrepreneurial Society and participating in Model United Nations conferences. She was also a member of the Cambridge University Pakistan Society and the Cambridge Development Initiative.
After completing her studies, Fiza Farhan returned to Pakistan and began working for her family’s business. However, she soon realized that her true passion lay in social entrepreneurship and decided to pursue a career in that field. She co-founded the Buksh Foundation in 2009 with her brother, Ammar Farooqui, and together they have been working to provide sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities in Pakistan.
The Buksh Foundation’s mission is to provide affordable and sustainable energy solutions to people in remote areas of Pakistan, particularly those who do not have access to grid electricity. The organization uses a microfinance model to provide loans to households and small businesses to purchase solar energy systems, which they can then pay back over time. In addition to providing access to clean energy, the Buksh Foundation also offers training and support to help people start and grow sustainable businesses.
Fiza Farhan’s work with the Buksh Foundation has earned her recognition as a leading social entrepreneur, particularly in the area of sustainable energy solutions. She has been invited to speak at several international conferences and has received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of social entrepreneurship.
