In a powerful story of resilience from rural Pakistan, a woman who was ostracised for pursuing work outside her home is now preparing to stand for local political office, aiming to transform her community from the ground up.
A forbidden education and a determined path
Naushaba Roonjho, from Sheikh Soomar village in Pakistan's Sindh province, made history in her district in 2010 when she became the first girl known to have passed the national secondary school exam. Instead of celebration, her achievement was met with a command from her father to stop studying. At 17, she was swiftly married to labourer Muhammad Uris.
Despite leaving formal school after primary level, Roonjho had continued her studies independently, facing mockery from those who believed education 'spoiled' girls. After years dedicated to her children and household, a turning point came when she applied for a national rural development programme to train as a community worker.
Her decision to go door-to-door as a health worker was seen as shameful, bringing accusations of dishonouring her family. The conflict culminated in 2019 when she was given an ultimatum: stop working or leave the family home. Choosing the latter, Roonjho and her supportive husband built their own single-room home, a move that hardened her resolve.
Transforming a community through health and education
Working on polio vaccination drives and health hygiene initiatives, Roonjho witnessed stark needs in her community. She encountered dangerous practices and a critical lack of midwives, in a country where the maternal mortality rate stands at 155 deaths per 100,000 live births—a figure still far above the UN's 2030 goal of 70.
Resistance was fierce. Some families shut their doors, dismissing polio vaccines as 'fake'. Her husband faced daily taunts for allowing his wife to work alongside men. Yet, united by their shared belief in education, the couple began a grassroots campaign to improve girls' schooling.
They discovered the local government school, while co-educational on paper, had no functioning space for girls. Through persistent door-to-door advocacy, Roonjho convinced parents to enrol their daughters. From zero, seven girls began attending, including her own two daughters—a monumental shift for the village.
Her leadership flourished through the Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO), a body fostering local change. Roonjho became president of her village's Local Support Organisation, coordinating family planning, polio vaccination, and health work. SRSO's CEO, Zulfiqar Kalhoro, identified her as a standout leader motivated purely by community service.
Setting sights on political office for 2027
Now 33, and bolstered by further training in disaster preparedness, Roonjho has set her sights on the 2027 local elections. She plans to run for the position of Union Council (UC) chairman, the lowest tier of Pakistani government responsible for basic neighbourhood services like clean water and roads.
She criticises the current incumbent for inaction, stating: "For years, we have asked for clean water, electricity and roads. Nothing happens." Her campaign has already begun, with household visits to lay the groundwork.
Village elder Manzoor Ali, 60, attests to her profound impact, noting the transformative shift in attitudes towards girls' education. "Now I don't think there is a single house with a daughter who isn't sending her to school," he says, pledging the village's support for her political bid.
For Roonjho, the mission is deeply personal. "I wasn't allowed to study," she states. "But I will make sure no girl in this village grows up hearing those same words." Her journey from an ostracised daughter to a potential local leader embodies a quiet revolution unfolding in rural Sindh.
