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    Pond's Miracle Journey 2015 - Redefining Pakistani Women

    Red Carpet: Pond's Miracle Journey 2015

    Written by: Farheen Abdullah
    Posted on: May 12, 2015 | | 中文

    The 'Miracle Mentors' of 2015

    Thursday, 7th May witnessed the launch of the Pond’s Miracle Journey 2015, as various renowned women stepped onto the red carpet at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, to be a part of the prestigious event.

    The Pond’s Miracle Journey was established in 2014 as a means of celebrating the achievements of women across Pakistan. The core idea behind the movement, designed by the global beauty brand Pond's, was to highlight the accomplishments of Pakistani women who juggle the demands of their professional careers, maintain a home and bring up their children with grace and style, day in and day out.

    The first year of The Pond's Miracle Journey focused on nominating and short-listing a hundred women across Pakistan, including the likes of Andleeb Rana, Jeannette Vargas Faruque, Roshaneh Zafar, Shehrezad Rahimtoola, Tena Durrani and Zarine Aziz, whose stories were shared nationwide. It was an extraordinary initiative that celebrated the myriad roles that women play as working professionals and home-makers.

    Maintaining its legacy, the Pond’s Miracle Journey ventured on with its initiative this year, and invited ten Miracle Mentors to its stage, who were selected based on their ability to juggle the two difficult challenges of motherhood and vocation, hence becoming role models for others to follow. Amongst the Miracle Mentors this year were Hadiqa Kiani, Nadia Hussain, Saba Hamid, Sameena Abbas, Shamain Faruque, Shehla Chatoor and Tahera Hasan, along with three of last year’s mentors; Muniba Mazari, Momina Duraid and Dr. Mahnaz Naveed Shah.

    Red Carpet: Pond's Miracle Journey 2015

    Journalist Sidra Iqbal hosted the event

    The 2015 launch started off with a warm welcome from journalist Sidra Iqbal, the host for the evening, who acknowledged and thanked all the Miracle Mentors for playing their role in portraying a positive image of Pakistani women and becoming a part of the Pond’s Miracle Journey. According to Sidra, a woman has numerous miracles in store for her every day, be it the perfect application of an eye-liner, the ideal husband, or even matching shoes to go with her outfit, which all lead up to the biggest miracle of all: the miracle of life. Whether she is a lawyer, a model, an actress, or even a homemaker, a woman can work her magic if she sets her heart on something, she said.

    Raheel Pasha, Marketing Director Unilever Pakistan, was the next person to address the audience. He promised to make Pond’s Miracle Journey a movement which will help Pakistan promote a positive image of its women and make them proud, evoking thought and empathy in all the people it reaches. Momina Duraid, C.E.O of Hum TV’s production house, ‘Moomal Productions’, followed suit and expressed her gratitude towards the Pond’s team for honoring her as one of the Miracle Mentors. She expressed her view that “hum auratain hi auraton ki dushman hoti hain (women are their own worst enemies)”, and gave examples from her own life to inspire other women. Refuting the typical image that exists amongst Pakistanis about the relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law, Duraid discussed how her own mother-in-law had been a constant source of encouragement for her, and remains her personal mentor. Defining beauty as intelligence and the ability to give back to the community, Duraid took leave from the stage with the hope that Pond’s Miracle Journey would grow to be a matter of pride for Pakistan by celebrating its unsung heroes.

    The stunning Nadia Hussain walked up on stage in her flowing black gown to narrate her own journey as a mother and a professional woman. The model expressed special gratitude towards her mother and her aunt, Tina Sani, for being her mentors and leading the perfect examples for her to follow. Hussain laid great emphasis on the roles that men play in the lives of Eastern women, and urged all the women present to teach their sons to respect women and treat their daughter-in-laws the way they expect to be treated by their own in-laws.

    Red Carpet: Pond's Miracle Journey 2015

    Nadia Hussain graced the stage in a flowing black gown

    As the evening approached its end, Sidra Iqbal invited Mr. Asanga Ranasinghe, VP Marketing at Unilever Pakistan, to distribute the Miracle Mentor plaques to the ten women. Ranasinghe highlighted, “The Pond’s Miracle Journey aims to provide inspiration as well as appreciation for the soft strength, courage and determination of women across Pakistan. As we asserted at the launch in 2014, this is not a brand campaign for Pond’s, but is rather a movement that we hope will contribute to Pakistani women looking and feeling good, and getting the most out of their lives.”

    Lastly, the audience welcomed with a loud round of applause an artist who is confined to a wheelchair but enjoys the luxury of a truly free spirit and mind, Muniba Mazari. Narrating the story of her accident seven years ago which left her as a paraplegic,  Muniba Mazari inspired the listeners by asking them to remind themselves that “I am the hero of my own story”, and gave them the courage to recognize their abilities regardless of their disabilities, and shine through. The presence of her mother and four-year-old son made her story even more beautiful to witness.

    Red Carpet: Pond's Miracle Journey 2015

    (l-r) Saba Hamid, Shehla Chatoor and Dr. Mehnaz Naveed Shah receiving the Miracle Mentor plaques

    The launch of Pond’s Miracle Journey 2015 concluded with the promise of initiating similar events in the near future and recognizing the inward and outward beauty of Pakistani women. The movement has now left each of its mentors with a task of selecting ten Miracle Women, the intention being to identify a batch of one hundred women who are renowned in their chosen professions whilst also successfully managing their personal lives.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021