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In a society where the birth of a daughter is sometimes met with sympathy rather than celebration, my family decided to write a different story. On 11 March 2019, we had the honor of appearing on PTV’s “Breakfast at Home” to share our journey—a journey defined by sacrifice, defiance of outdated traditions, and an unwavering belief in the power of education.
My wife, Azra, and I never viewed our four daughters as a burden or as someone else’s responsibility. We come from Kot Radha Kishan and did not have unlimited resources, but we were clear about our priorities. While many were saving for dowries and lavish wedding halls, we were setting aside funds for university prospectuses and international airfare.
As Azra shared in the interview, “I decided I would sell whatever I had to, but I would never let my daughters’ education stop.”
The interview was a proud moment for our family, reflecting what becomes possible when girls are trusted, supported, and encouraged to pursue their ambitions without limitation.
Breaking Barriers: Our Family’s Journey to Empowering Girls Through Education – Muhammad Anwar
• Tabindah Anwar: Our eldest daughter, who completed her studies at NUST and now contributes to global development through her work with UNDP.
• Muneeza Anwar: Earned her MSc in International Management with distinction from Royal Holloway, University of London, demonstrating that Pakistani girls can excel at the highest international standards.
• Tayyaba Anwar: Joined us via video from New York. She is currently the only Pakistani student in her Architecture program at Yale University, one of the world’s leading institutions.
• Sayera Anwar: Our youngest, shaping her creative journey at BNU Lahore, pursuing her passion for Fine Arts.
During our conversation with the PTV hosts, several defining principles of our family philosophy became clear:
Investment Over Convention: We consciously stepped away from the multi-event wedding culture. Tabindah reflected on how we kept wedding expenses modest so that our priority remained academic growth and long term opportunity.
Challenging the “Son’s Support” Narrative: We openly addressed the societal belief that only a son ensures security in old age. We believe an educated and empowered daughter is fully capable of being a pillar of strength for her parents.
Trust and Friendship: We raised our daughters as individuals with agency. By granting them independence, including personal bank accounts from the age of sixteen, we built trust that enabled them to explore the world while remaining grounded in their values.
Leading by Example: A father’s role, in my view, is to be his daughter’s first advocate. Whether assisting with household chores or polishing their shoes when they were young, I wanted them to see that dignity lies in character, not hierarchy, and that their father stands unwaveringly behind them.
Our story is not merely about our family. It is a call to action. Pakistan is evolving, and when you invest in a daughter, you do not simply educate one individual; you strengthen an entire generation.
We hope our journey encourages parents to see their daughters not as a responsibility to be married off, but as leaders ready to be launched into the world with confidence and purpose.
Muhammad Anwar is a governance and development leader with over three decades of experience in public policy and institutional leadership. As CEO of Freedom Gate Prosperity, he promotes democratic values, inclusive growth, climate resilience, and youth empowerment across Pakistan.
© 2026 Created with Muhammad Anwar
