The web page has been launched on 2 May 2023 at a media event in Islamabad Serena Hotel by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Czechia Mr Jiří Kozák together with Mrs Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, Mrs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Tomáš Smetánka.

Heroines.pk is the next step of a co-operative project of a Czech arts school and the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore that aims at highlighting the role of women in the society, providing role models, and supporting women empowerment. In 2020, students of Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art in the Czech city of Plzeň created a set of 50 posters of outstanding women of all times. The collection inspired NCA to produce a similar series, celebrating prominent Pakistani women. The Czech and Pakistani Heroines posters exhibition was then held in Lahore on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Pakistan in August 2022. Afterwards, pictures of 50 + 45 great women from both countries have been edited into a book, published in December 2022.

In order to make the The Czech and Pakistani Heroines widely accessible, the Embassy prepared an online form of the book, which will also include an Urdu version. “I wish the Heroines serve in education, to widen boys’ and particularly girls’ view about the roles women have been playing and can play as professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, politicians, social activists,” said Ambassador Tomáš Smetánka. „I do hope portraits of personalities like Samina Baig, Asma Jahangir, Perween Rahman or Arfa Kareem will inspire young ladies to the best use of their talents and abilities.”

“The women of Czech and Pakistan are resilient and fearless, their stories have a special place in our hearts and now they’ll live forever through the very special initiative: web page Heroines.pk,” Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar said.

The Czech Embassy, NCA, and Bata Pakistan Ltd. as a sponsor of the project decided to establish The Heroine Award to be conferred every year to a woman that distinguishes herself in her profession or area of activity. The laureate’s portrait will then be added to the collection. Public can submit nominations for the award through www.heroines.pk.