Women2Women Forum Hosts 8th Annual Gala, Honors Community Leaders and Highlights Shehzori Project

By Mohsin Zaheer

New York: The Women2Women Forum, a registered non-profit organization committed to empowering Pakistani-American women, hosted its 8th Annual Women Empowerment Gala in honor of International Women’s Day. The event also served as a fundraiser for the Shehzori Housing Project, drawing a large gathering from across the tri-state community.

The evening featured the prestigious Neighborhood Heroes Award Ceremony, recognizing outstanding individuals for their leadership and service. The 2026 honorees included Erum Hanif, CEO of APNA Community Services; Sterley Stanley, New Jersey Assemblyman; Maliha Janjua, Director of Client Services at Women Aware; Afsheen Shamsi, civil rights advocate and board member of Emgage Action; Dur e Aziz Amna, novelist and cultural worker; and Mehreen Saeed, Deputy Assistant Director at the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget.

Distinguished guests included Consul General Aamer Atozai and Assemblymember Shama Haider, who praised the Women2Women Forum for its continued efforts in empowering women and strengthening communities.

The event was skillfully conducted by stage secretaries Daanish Ahmad and Beenish Ambreen, who guided the program throughout the evening. Rahila Firdous also addressed the audience, appreciating the organization’s impactful initiatives, particularly the Shehzori Housing Project.

Founder and President Nusrat Sohail, in her keynote remarks, highlighted this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” emphasizing the power of sisterhood, mentorship, and collective progress. She underscored the importance of uplifting one another and detailed the mission of the Shehzori Housing Project, which provides shelter, stability, and hope to survivors of domestic violence and vulnerable women and children. Organizers also shared further details about the project, encouraging community support to expand its reach.

Vice President Ghazal Rahman spoke about the importance of empowering women through leadership, representation, and mentorship, noting that strong women help transform families and communities across generations.

In his remarks, Consul General Aamer Atozai commended the organization’s initiatives, particularly the Shehzori Project, describing it as a transformative effort that promotes resilience, independence, and opportunity. Assemblymembers Shama Haider and Sterley Stanley also appreciated the forum’s role in fostering leadership and supporting women across diverse fields.

The Women2Women Forum board members for 2026 include Ghazal Rahman (Vice President), Beenish Ambreen (Executive Director), Sidrah Jamil, Bushra Salman, Shama Thariani, Dr. Amina Saqib, Nuzhat Iqbal, Sanaa Omer, and Sofia Zahid.

The host committee for the event comprised Kainat Azhar, Rahila Firdous, Daanish Ahmad, Ayesha Aslam, Sabeena Surmust, Huda Chaudhri, Madiha Naz, Farah Manzoor, Laila Tariq, Sadia Aftab, Afifa Ahmed, Mohsin Alvi, Ghousia Ahad, Shehla Ghani, Alishba Panjwani, Nabeel Shams, Ismat Alam, and Mariam Suri—professionals from diverse fields who contributed to the success of the evening.

The gala concluded on a celebratory note with a musical performance by renowned singer Haadi Upal, who entertained the audience and added a vibrant cultural touch to the event.

With its guiding message “Empower. Inspire. Uplift. Together,” the Women2Women Forum continues to play a vital role in promoting leadership, philanthropy, and empowerment within the Pakistani-American community.